Private sector jobs will also dominate, with mining equipment...

Private sector jobs will also dominate, with mining equipment manufacturer Caterpillar confirming it will axe 280 jobs from its Burnie plant. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is expected to visit Tassie’s north-west tomorrow. He will be flying into a region reeling from job losses related to the economic crisis, with hundreds more workers in the pulp and paper industry also under review.


Caterpillar jobs

Caterpillar's Tasmanian base is at Burnie, in the state's north west, where the local federal member is Sid Sidebottom.

Mr Sidebottom said on Tuesday the international machinery manufacturer, which announced in January it was cutting 20,000 people jobs worldwide, had told him of the Burnie cuts.
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Caterpillar cuts 280 jobs in Tasmania
7th April 2009,

Construction and mining equipment manufacturer Caterpillar will cut 280 jobs from its 700-strong Tasmanian workforce by the end of the month, a federal MP says.

Caterpillar's Tasmanian base is at Burnie, in the state’s north west, where the local federal member is Sid Sidebottom.

Mr Sidebottom said on Tuesday the international machinery manufacturer, which announced in January it was cutting 20,000 people jobs worldwide, had told him of the Burnie cuts.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is expected on Wednesday to tour the Burnie area, which is facing further mass job losses.

Premier David Bartlett said he will tour the area as soon he can.

In the meantime his government will be doing all it can to help skill the displaced Burnie workers so they can find other jobs.

Mr Sidebottom said Caterpillar told him “280 workmen would be losing their jobs in the next couple of weeks”.

“About 360 workers will be retained to continue the work they have orders for.”

Mr Sidebottom said the fate of those 360 workers after the orders were filled was unknown at this stage.

“These job losses are quite devastating for the area but it’s a very resilient region with a diversified economy.

“But there are so many other businesses here that hang off Caterpillar, which has been a very successful business and we hope will continue to be in the future.

“It's been affected by the worldwide downturn and we unfortunately are going to suffer the consequences of that.”