By Neeraj Nanda
Melbourne: The two Indian origin councillors in the Wyndham Council differ over the Victorian government’s upcoming Trade Mission to a few countries including India. The differences cropped up between Cr Gautam Gupta and Cr Intaz Khan during a Council meeting on 24th February, 2014 during discussion on a motion, ‘Job losses in West’ moved by Councillor Gautam Gupta and Cr John Gibbons. In fact, Cr Intaz Khan seconded the motion for urgent discussion.
Cr Intaz Khan supported the Victorian Trade Mission saying it will help enhance trade between India and Australia and create jobs. This came in response to Cr Gautam Gupta’s submission that the money spent on such missions should instead be spent ‘to create programs that support employment in the West’.
“I believe that the State Government had good intentions in running such multi-million dollar programs however they could not manage the outcomes. We need good intentions and more importantly we need good governance. I want to know if these programs have led to job losses via outsourcing or a net investment, “Cr Gupta said.
Though the motion was carried unanimously, the shadow of recent job losses and its impact on Wyndham City and the broader Western metropolitan region in relation to recent announcements by key manufacturers including Ford, Holden, Toyota and Alcoa was evident.
Cr Intaz Khan is part of the Victorian Trade Mission’s education section representing his college Western Institute of Technology (WIT).
– SAT News Service
