OPPOSITION Leader Daniel Andrews has visited Ballarat to talk up his chances one year out from the next state election.
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Solving Ballarat’s manufacturing woes was high on his agenda, with hundreds of jobs slashed in recent months as the industry copes with rising costs and a high Australian dollar.
Mr Andrews said the sector faced several challenges, including coninuing international uncertainty, which he accused the state government of ignoring.
He suggested one way of helping local business was to ensure governments purchased its goods locally.
“When it comes to supporting manufacturing, jobs and skills, trying to play your part, there are things the government can do,” he said.
Mr Andrews also lashed out at the cuts to TAFE by the state government last year, saying that they were hurting people who need to reskill for a new job.
“Now’s not the time to making it harder for people to get skills, now’s not the time to make it harder for people to have options,” he said.
On the prospects of some major funding announcements from Labor, Mr Andrews said he would have “more to say” on the Eureka Stadium redevelopment promised at the 2010 election.
“It is a great shame that this has stalled,” he said.
Mr Andrews said he would be soon releasing Labor’s transport plan, which would provide alternatives to the state government’s multibillion-dollar East-West Link.
“The word alternative is key. We won’t be fixated on one project,” he said.
Regardless of the recent creation of new seats Wendouree and Buninyong, Mr Andrews said Labor would have a fight on its hands to hold both Ballarat seats.
tom.cowie@fairfaxmedia.com.au