$300 million cash boost will benefit workers who move to Australia
18/11/2008 by Gareth McConnell
The Australian government have announced a $300 economic package for local councils designed to create jobs that skilled workers who move to Australia can benefit from.
The money will be used to build libraries, town centres and cultural facilities, creating work in Australia for engineers, planners, electricians and other skilled labourers.
At a meeting with 400 local mayors in Canberra, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced the funding, guaranteeing grants of at least $100,000 under a $250 million fund and a further $50 million fund will be devoted to larger, long-range projects, including grants of up to $2 million for sporting stadiums and cultural precincts to encourage matched funding from state government authorities.
Mr Rudd predicted the stimulus package would create thousands of jobs adding the money should be spent before the end of September next year.
"The nation is crying out for infrastructure development. The nation is tired of our excuses for not acting," he told the mayors.
"The Australian economy is sound, but we are not immune from the global slowdown and the real possibility of a global recession,” Mr Rudd said.
Around 190,300 people emigrating to Australia are projected to arrive in 2008/09, with skilled workers accounting for most places as the country battles labour shortages in the building sector.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans recently announced an increase in the number of Brit’s moving to Australia.
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