ACTU praises Woolies' jobs pledge

The ACTU has lauded retail giant Woolworths for creating thousands of new jobs,
urging corporate leaders to follow its lead in the tough times ahead.
The retailer said on Friday it would create more than 7,000 jobs in the second half
of the 2008/09 financial year.

Woolworths CEO Michael Luscombe said the announcement followed the creation of 9,000
jobs in the first half of 2008/09.
"We see our role as generating economic activity and jobs," Mr Luscombe said in a
statement.
"We think it's an absolute tragedy when anyone loses their job, let alone the
numbers we have seen this week."
He said the bulk of the new jobs would come from the opening of new stores, growth
in existing stores and store refurbishments.
Woolworths owns Dick Smith, PowerHouse and Tandys electronic stores, Dan Murphy's
bottle shops, as well as supermarkets and petrol stations.
A spokesman for ACTU president Sharan Burrow said the news was "a bright spot in an
otherwise grim period for Australian workers and jobs".
"Woolworths has shown the type of leadership that we've been calling for from
corporate Australia," he said.
"And we need to see more leaders within this community who are prepared to do all
they can to protect and retain jobs and local industries through the current
downturn."
Mr Luscombe said the company's information technology projects were continuing to grow.
Treasurer Wayne Swan also welcomed the Woolworths announcement and said the
government had been responsible for maintaining business confidence.
"It shows that despite the global recession there is still companies prepared to
invest and to employ Australians," Mr Swan said.
"And I think that it also says something about the government's economic security
strategy.
"There is no doubt the economic security strategy boosted consumption in the
December quarter and that has been very important in terms of supporting employment
and confidence in the Australian economy."
But Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull said the government's $10.4 billion stimulus
package in December had not been effective and the "cash splash" in the second $42
billion package would be just as ineffective.
"If you want to use government monies to promote jobs and promote economic activity,
invest in infrastructure, particularly if ... it is infrastructure that you can
start on immediately," he told reporters.
Asked why Woolworths had been able to create jobs if the economic stimulus package
had not worked, Mr Turnbull said: "Well, we'll see. You should address that question
to Woolworths I think."