The Assistant Treasurer, Senator Nick Sherry, and the Federal Member for Flynn, Chris Trevor, welcomed local business people today at a forum to tackle the economic challenges facing the region and ensure that Gladstone continues to feature heavily in Federal Government planning for the future.
The local representatives of some of Gladstone's biggest employers took the opportunity to raise various issues with the visiting Assistant Treasurer, including skill shortages, training and future tax reforms.
"This feedback will be invaluable as the Rudd Government weighs up the way forward in the development of the energy and resources sector in Australia," the Assistant Treasurer said.
"It was great to hear first-hand from people directly involved in these industries and to find out more about the massive projects underway and in the pipeline for the Gladstone region."
"It's truly an impressive program that will have far reaching and beneficial effects on the Gladstone area – and it will be supported by massive infrastructure investments by the Rudd Government."
Chris Trevor said his reason for bringing the Assistant Treasurer to Gladstone was to keep the $65 billion in proposed projects for the region at the forefront of Government thinking.
"It's been great to have Nick here to listen to the people at the frontline of these important industries and he can take back to Canberra where we're coming from and what we need."
"It's all part of the process of helping Gladstone prepare to accommodate the huge changes bound to come as a result of this future development."
"This roundtable has identified many of the issues crucial to Gladstone's growth and will help us prepare for the challenges ahead," Mr Trevor said.