Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has announced that liquefied natural gas producer Bechtel will offer 400 ‘adult apprenticeships’, reports Australia’s ABC News network.

The new Bechtel facilities will be constructed on Curtis Island in Gladstone.

Bligh told the State of Queensland Government: “This is one of the largest intakes of adult apprentices in Australia’s history and they’ll be looking to fast-track where appropriate and some may finish as early as 18 months.”

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union’s assistant state secretary Rohan Webb tells ABC that local young people have been let down, saying: “There just seems to be no investment through this announcement in regard to future and new apprenticeships for young people in Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay and regional centres within Queensland.”