Wed, 14th May 2008

Budget will foster spike in welfare dependency

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

Andrew Southcott, Opposition Spokesman for Employment Participation and Apprenticeships and Training has declared that Labor’s weakening of the Mutual Obligation requirements for job seekers indicates they have no real commitment to helping the unemployed into the workforce.

Labor’s proposed changes to employment services see a shift to a culture of welfare dependency not seen since the days of the Keating Government. Job seekers will now have 12 months before they have any requirement to undertake a mutual obligation activity.

Work for the Dole is an important programme, providing job seekers with valuable work experience, often incorporating skills training to meet local needs, whilst offering participants the opportunity to do something for their community.

Watering down this important programme clearly indicates that Labor has no real commitment to providing practical experience to job seekers.