April 29, 2016
Protecting local jobs remains the absolute focus of Gippsland MP Darren Chester as the Federal Government considers the private sector bid process to operate the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) business registry. Mr Chester said a commitment to keep jobs in Traralgon and the Latrobe Valley would remain a focus as the government entered the final phase of testing the market for private sector interest to upgrade, operate and add value to the registry functions of ASIC.
“The government is pleased with the commitments made to the Latrobe Valley by interested parties during the indicative bid phase,” Mr Chester said.
“Maintaining the existing operations in Traralgon and the Latrobe Valley area will remain a focus as the final bid phase moves forward.”
Mr Chester said he had made his colleagues and decision-makers aware of ASIC’s importance as a major employer to the Latrobe Valley economy.
“The government is yet to determine if the privatisation of the registry will proceed,” Mr Chester said.
“If it does proceed, I have received assurances that there will be no job losses in the Latrobe Valley.”
Senator Mathias Cormann, Minister for Finance, said there were six indicative bids received from a broad range of private sector bidders.
“There is an active and growing private sector market for operating sophisticated data services, potentially delivering improved accessibility, efficiency and functionality of the ASIC Registry,” Minister Cormann said.
“The government is pleased with the proposed commitments received during the indicative bid phase around maintaining the ASIC Registry’s existing operations in Traralgon and the Latrobe Valley area. We will remain focused on this as the final bid phase moves forward.”
Mr Minister Cormann said the Commonwealth would retain ownership of the ASIC Registry’s data.
The government will make a decision on any further steps, following the evaluation of the final bids.