Victorian companies will win tax breaks for hiring youths, the long-term jobless and retrenched workers under a Labor election pledge to create 100,000 jobs.
The move, part of a $1 billion jobs plan, will provide companies with $1000 payroll tax relief for each new worker who is under 25, retrenched or long-term unemployed.
Jobs are shaping as a key election issue with Victoria's unemployment rate the highest of the mainland states, at 6.8 per cent in August, and the winding down of the manufacturing sector.
Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said Labor wanted to support employers who would give young people a start, with a $100 million fund to support the creation of 100,000 full-time jobs.
"This is about common sense policy. It's about taking action instead of lecturing Victorians that they've never had it so good," Mr Andrews told reporters on Monday.
"There is a jobs crisis in our state. We need to work hard to get Victorians back to work."
However, the government panned the policy, saying Labor's jobs plan was uncosted and replicated existing government policies.
"Daniel Andrews is known for his signature policy being to rip up East West Link contracts and rip up 6700 jobs that go with that," Treasurer Michael O'Brien told reporters.
"He wants to create a new public holiday to kill jobs in the hospitality and retail industry," he said of the proposed AFL grand final eve holiday.
Mr Andrews says Labor's plan is fully funded and costed but those details won't be released until closer to the November 29 election.
The plan includes setting up an independent panel of senior business leaders to advise the premier on the spending of $500 million for jobs and investment.
As well, $200 million will go towards a grant program to back job creation in growth areas and a $200 million investment fund to support job creating projects in regional Victoria.
The plan will also bring international business leaders to Victoria and create new Victorian government business offices in South America, Turkey and Singapore.
Mr Andrews said his plan is aimed at kick starting the state's economy.
"The last few years have seen a slip from leading the nation to now an unemployment rate of 6.8 per cent," he said.
However, Mr O'Brien accused Labor of trying to pass off current coalition government policies as its own new initiatives.
He said the Napthine government slashed payroll tax to 4.85 per cent, in July, helping about 39,000 Victorian employers to save more than $234 million over four years.
The government had created more than 108,000 new jobs since coming to office, he said.
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