07 Aug, 2015

Jobs on the Agenda at Historic Mayor’s Summit

The Premier is the keynote speaker at a Local Government leaders’ jobs summit, in Adelaide today, to map out a plan to help create local jobs.

In this initiative – a South Australian first – Mayors will canvass a range of matters such as opportunities to bring forward job-creating infrastructure projects and will feature speeches from the Premier, Lord Mayor of Adelaide and President of the Local Government Association.

The Mayors will also look at ways to attract new investment and will share their vision for how their local communities can innovate to help create the jobs of the future.

Lord Mayor, Martin Haese, said that Mayors were all too aware of the challenges but were still optimistic, with signs of job growth in several sectors and important works like the North-South corridor project underway.

“There have been positive signs recently, with the Adelaide City Census of Land Use and Employment showing a 4 per cent rise in people employed by City businesses and organisations. I’m committed to working with all stakeholders to build on these positives and continue to play to our strengths such as food, hospitality and education to help create more jobs,” Mr Haese said.

“Local Government was a key player in the Premier’s recent trade mission to China, so I am also keen to discuss how ‘Team SA’ can make the most out these new relationships and opportunities.

“We all want to work together to help turn this drought into a flood of new and exciting jobs, and look forward to sharing our practical outcomes in the days following the summit.”

LGA President, Mayor Dave Burgess, said the LGA was pleased to co-convene this historic and important forum to look at how Councils could best assist communities in areas of regional development and economic growth with the resulting outcome of increased employment.

“We all know an unemployment factor near 8 per cent is a pretty grim statistic for South Australia.

“Local Government can't wave a wand to solve the issue but we can work constructively together, to look at ways we can assist business to stimulate growth and create jobs for our local people and keep them in our local communities.

“I know that every Mayor is determined to work constructively with local businesses, organisations and government to work through this difficult period and get the state’s economy back on track.”

Matt Halliwell