The Victorian Government's pre-budget spruiking continued today, as the Premier Daniel Andrews announced some funding initiative at a Rural Press Club luncheon in Melbourne.
Mr Andrews said the 2015-16 State Budget would provide $32 million over four years to Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) throughout Victoria.
LLENs are made up of a range of organisations that span education and industry. They help young people who are dropping out of education to gain skills and employment.
There are 31 LLENs across Victoria, with more than half in regional Victoria. During the last four years, the LLEN program has assisted 250,000 young people through 850 partnerships, but last year, the Federal Government had cancelled its funding stream.
Mr Andrews said through this initiative and the TAFE rescue package, the Labor government was ensuring young people got the skills they needed for the jobs they wanted.
The government's first budget, to be put down on Tuesday, will also include a $1 million plan to boost Victoria's wineries. The plan will focus on increasing cellar door visits, to create jobs and promote regional tourism, by developing the 'Victorian Wine Tourism Strategy'.
Victoria’s $1.5 billion wine industry has 21 wine regions with more than 800 wineries and employs more than 11,500 people, including 2600 people directly employed in grape growing and winemaking.
The Labor Government will also establish a Wine Industry Ministerial Advisory Group.
These efforts will go hand in hand with Victoria’s first large-scale wine industry trade mission in late May, which will bring more than 100 key international wine buyers, investors and influential industry figures to our state.
The mission will display the quality of Victorian wine and include tours of Victoria's premier wine regions, one-on-one meetings, and a major wine showcase, opening up new overseas markets.
The $1 million Victorian Wine Tourism Strategy will be funded by the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund.
