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BRISBANE - The Queensland Government has appointed a group of 16 leading business sector experts to help guide workers in the state's main job industries through the economic crisis.
The 16-strong group, called the Jobs Squad, was approached by the Government and has volunteered its services.
It includes ANZ Bank's chief economist Saul Eslake, Bank of Queensland managing director David Liddy and former Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon.
The team will provide insider information on the economy, give expert advice on how to protect jobs and think outside the box to inform Government policy.
Premier Anna Bligh has directed the state Treasury to provide a full briefing on the economic crisis for the group at the Cabinet's first meeting of the year tomorrow.
Ms Bligh has also ordered a comprehensive review of the late 1990s jobs plans established to fight unemployment during the last economic downturn. A review will also be conducted across the public sector to identify vacant positions for workers.
Ms Bligh said she had selected the Jobs Squad from among some of the best minds in Australia to provide rapid response solutions to counter the effects of the financial crisis.
"They will be the Government's eyes and ears on the ripple effect of the economic crisis," Ms Bligh said.
"These are the people who have their finger on the pulse of what's going on out there in their industry sectors and they need to work with Government to come up with innovative solutions to the downturn."
The Premier said the Government had also identified 349 skilled jobs in Government-owned corporations for those seeking employment.
A specific page on the Government website will be set up to direct unemployed workers towards the positions.
- AAP