Vic premier sees light for Geelong Victorian Premier Denis Napthine has vowed to work with industry to create opportunities in Geelong. VICTORIAN Premier Denis Napthine has pledged to work with the Geelong community to create opportunities in new industries in the wake of the mass job loss announcement at Ford. Dr Napthine says the only testing facility in the Asia Pacific would remain at Lara in the Geelong region. "That is some light at the end of the tunnel," he told a meeting of a dozen industry, community and business leaders. Dr Napthine said Geelong is a much changed city now compared with when he grew up in the area. "It is more resilient, more diverse and has got a more positive forward-looking future," he said. Dr Napthine said the government would work with businesses to create jobs in different industries. "I think if we work together I think we can over the next three-and-half years work with Ford, work with their workforce to provide them the best assistance available, the best opportunities available to get a positive outcome for them and their families and to make sure that Geelong continues to grow and develop," he said. He renewed his call for the national disability insurance scheme headquarters to be based in Geelong. "Now with this decision it makes it more imperative and more important that the federal government support the headquarters of the NDIS (in Geelong)," Dr Napthine said. Victorian opposition leader Daniel Andrews said the state government's $9 million contribution to a joint fund with the federal government to help workers learn new skills was inadequate. "If you're absolutely passionate about these jobs and this industry and manufacturing in our state, $9 million is not a partnership with the federal government," he told reporters. Any Ford worker who lost their job yesterday would be unwise to be relying upon Denis Napthine to retrain them after what this premier has done to TAFE. Emerging from a meeting, Dr Napthine said he told Ford representatives the government would like the company to contribute to a jobs creation fund for the region that includes $30 million from the commonwealth and $9 million from the state government. "We would like a significant contribution from Ford to that fund and that was put strongly to them today," he said. They were receptive to take that up with their senior management. Mayor Keith Fagg said Geelong needed to embrace new opportunities for its manufacturing base. He said carbon fibre was one of the key opportunities for the city. "There is not doubt that this is a difficult period for Geelong," he said. We feel for those people affected, but the best way we can face this is to move forward, not look back. Dr Napthine was confronted by a student from the local Gordon TAFE, which has reduced services since funding cuts announced by the government. Suzie Iskra, 52, said she had to clean injuries sustained during a fall on campus in the toilets because there was no longer a first aid room. "Please, please help our TAFE," she said. Dr Napthine said TAFE funding had increased from about $50 million to $80 million since the coalition had been in office.