A new Local Jobs First Commissioner will focus on bringing local businesses and workers into Victoria’s major manufacturing, infrastructure and services projects.
Moana Weir has been appointed as Victoria’s new Local Jobs First Commissioner and brings a wealth of experience to the role.
Ms Weir has been a senior officer at companies including SEEK, REA Group, and an executive at Bupa.
An experienced lawyer, she is currently Chair of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.
The Local Jobs First Commissioner advocates on behalf of Victorian small and medium-sized enterprises and promotes the employment of Victorian apprentices, trainees and cadets on government construction projects.
The role also oversees compliance with local content commitments that maximise opportunities for local industry.
Ms Weir replaces the inaugural commissioner Don Matthews, who retired in 2021.
Victorian Minister for Employment, Jaala Pulford, said, “I would like to welcome Ms Moana Weir into her role as the Local Jobs First Commissioner as she supports our state’s economic and social recovery by getting more Victorians into local jobs.”
Ms Weir said, “I look forward to working closely with industry and across government to help drive economic recovery and promote opportunities for local workers through Victorian Government procurement.”
The Victorian Government is the largest procurer of goods, services and construction works in the state and helps to develop local industries, create jobs and boost economic activity.
Under its Local Jobs First policy, the Victorian Government has set local content requirements for 227 strategic projects since December 2014.
Victoria’s Local Jobs First Act 2003 is Australia’s oldest legislation on mandatory local content, requiring all government departments and agencies to apply local content for contracts valued at $1 million or more in regional Victoria, or $3 million or more in metropolitan Melbourne.
It also requires job opportunities to be created for Victorian apprentices, trainees and cadets on projects worth over $20 million.
For more information about the role of the Commissioner, visit: localjobsfirst.vic.gov.au/commissioner.
