1000 construction jobs at risk

Leaders (whoever they are) of the construction industy are reported to be in emergency talks with the Economic Development Minister over clains a thousand construction jobs could be at risk by the summer. It had been suggested last week that States projects might be brough forward, but some people are worried that it might not happen. The Minister has indicated the States might look at a small business loan guarantee scheme.

I'm not sure bringing forward States project is the way to help the industry as a whole. It would be a nice cushion for those States approved companies who happen to have contracts, but does nothing for the other (generally smaller) companies, expect perhaps to put them at even further diasadvantage. A loan guarantee scheme would probably be more generally applicable, assuming of course, that banks are prepared to make loans in the first instance.

Surely the States approved companies would not need to move to the private sector, therefore helping out the whole of the industry.