Tue, 13th May 2008

Southcott Doorstop - Work for the Dole

Dr Andrew Southcott MP
Shadow Minister for Employment Participation and Apprenticeships and Training

E&OE

Good morning everyone. There’s been some speculation in the paper that the Work for the Dole programme is going to be axed in tonight’s Budget. Now last year it was a very different story when Kevin Rudd went to the Australian people last year in his election policy he said that Work for the Dole was an important part of the mix of services, but he also said that Labor is committed to retaining the programme. These weren’t just weasel words, this was black and white - an election commitment that the Labor party took to the Australian public. Now, on a previous occasion, Kevin Rudd has said that he will honour his election commitments to the letter. So I’m calling on Kevin Rudd, I’m calling on the Minister, Brendan O’Connor to clarify whether Work for the Dole will be axed. If so, this is a breach of the commitment which the Labor party took to the election and there is very strong support in the community for the principle of Mutual Obligation. There is strong support for the principle of Work for the Dole and the Labor party axe this popular programme at their peril.