Unions to argue for smart investments at Hunter region 2020 summit

The Hunter Region 2020 conference this weekend will be told unions expect the Rudd Labor Government to support intitiatives which invest in new technology and promote smart manufacturing for our region.

" I have a brief to go to the regional 2020 conference, hosted by local Federal MPs Greg Combet and Jill Hall, to argue that the Australian Workers Union trusts that this new Labor Government understands the Hunter's need for the creation of good, quality jobs with a long term future," Kevin Maher, Newcastle and Northern area Australian Workers Union Secretary, said today.

" The AWU is investing a lot in campaigning over the coming months and years for a decent program to support regional Australia's future.

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The Australian Workers' Union's Kevin Maher has been invited to attend the regional 2020 which will be held on Saturday at the Germania Club in Warners Bay.

" Sydney is full to capacity - the cost of housing is astronomical and there is a real crisis in the provision of water and transport and health care.

" The solution is to have the Federal and State Government support the creation of job growth and population growth in the Hunter area.

" We need to develop new manufacturing techniques, procedures and new technology and see these innovations established in our region.

" Manufacturing is no longer hammer and nail ,or sewing machine and thread, it is about supplying new products and much of this could come from local Research and Development at our university, among our current industries ... if the Federal and State Government provided appropriate incentives and support.

" We also need to campaign for investment into our existing traditional Hunter industries.

" Many of these traditional industries are valuable but they are suffering from severe pressure as a result of the low wage competition from India and China.

" However the investment by the Government in these older workplaces needs to be based on some strategic thinking about our nation's long term needs; not merely throwing cash at a flailing manufacturer. We believe in clever, green, sustainable manufacturing one that caters for today and thinks about tomorrow. "