Victorian government commits to directly funding skills.

It what looks like a move timed to coincide with the state election, the Victorian government is to spend $234,700 to boost the skills of a major regional manufacturer.

The local member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas, announced the funding for the Barker Trailers Regional Workforce Development project through the Government’s Regional Skills Fund.

Barker Trailers is a major manufacturer that employs 200 and has made more than 10,000 of the large cargo semi-trailers that are pulled by prime movers.

In all Tafe will upskill 180 workers, with 25 being given more advanced leadership training.

“The planned activity will greatly support jobs, skill depth, leadership development, safety culture, and support a skills hub that is market leading,” said Barker Trailers CEO, Simon Meadows told trailermag.com.au.

“Barker are heavily committed to our investment in people, and the fantastic Government support significantly enhances jobs and skills in regional manufacturing.”

The project will include training across safety and compliance, leadership and manufacturing operations, which will deliver the workforce Barker Trailers needs to build on their existing operation and diversify.

Established in Woodend in 1974, Barker Trailers now manufactures from two victorian plants in Woodend and Maryborough, with total factory size of over 30,000 square metres.

While it is hard to argue with such a shot in the arm for regional skills development, the timing so close to election is at the very last, unfortunate.

One also hopes that the method for selecting individual firms for such major public support is fully transparent and even-handed.

Picture: Barker Trailers

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