Increasing employment, improving education and protecting public health

For Queenslanders, in this election the choice could not be clearer. Whether hailing from metropolitan Brisbane or the Gold Coast, regional centres such as Townsville, or the rural areas of the state, Labor will make the investments that drive the economy, create the jobs and ensure a quality of life for working and middle class families.

Speaking in Townsville, Labor leader Bill Shorten outlined the Labor vision of infrastructure and government investment to continue driving the state and delivering for its residents.

“Labor has got positive plans for Queensland.”

“I think over the course of this campaign I’ve spent six or seven nights up in Townsville and indeed even more in regional Queensland,” Shorten said.

“I’ve chosen to do that because Labor has got positive plans for Queensland.

“We have a plan for jobs and we’ve made it clear that we want to see local jobs in regional Queensland and in Queensland generally.

“We have a plan to lift living standards.

“It’s Labor who’s been leading the agenda this year on jobs in Queensland.

“Our commitment to Cross River Rail in Brisbane.

“Our commitment to the northern Australia tourism infrastructure fund.

“Our commitment to the Townsville Stadium,” he added.

For a state undergoing significant economic changes and exposed to the fluctuations of global commodity prices, Shorten also outlined Labor’s vision for an educated, skilled, productive and healthy workforce, best positioned for the jobs of the future.

“We are very committed to making sure that the workforce of the future gets the best possible skills,” said the Labor leader.

“That’s why we’re offering the best-funded plan for Queensland TAFE, for Queensland universities, and of course for Queensland schools.

“Making sure we’ve got policies which empower.”

“As part of our positive plans for Queensland, we’re also very committed to ensuring that we’ve got the best possible healthcare system — a healthy workforce is a productive workforce.

“We have also made it clear that, in Queensland, we want Queensland women to get equal treatment to Queensland men.

“That’s why we’re making sure we’ve got policies which empower their participation in the workforce.

“When women are treated equally in the workforce, you’ve got a much better, productive workforce,” he added.

Bringing the message together, Shorten outlined a vision for a positive future for Queensland, an inclusive future for young and old, working and middle class, men and women — for all.

“So when you look at the range of policies that Labor’s offering Queensland — jobs, education, Medicare, investment in infrastructure, investment in roads, investment in rail and, of course, investment in the National Broadband Network, first-class technology — then what we see is a positive plan for Queensland’s future,” said Shorten.

This article originally appeared in the Labor Herald.