BRISBANE, Queensland, Sept. 15 -- The Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet issued text of the following statement:

Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training

The Honourable Ros Bates

* Next funding round now open for the Crisafulli Government's Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative. * Thousands more Queenslanders will have the opportunity to build skills and secure jobs through simpler programs, less red tape and stronger links between training and local workforce needs. * TheCrisafulli Government is rebuilding Queensland's skilled workforce pipeline after Labor's decade of decline created dire skills shortages across the State.

The Crisafulli Government is delivering opportunities for thousands more Queensla...