It is alarming to see the unemployment rate rise to 4.1 per cent today, the worst result in two years and an indication the Albanese Government needs to get serious about jobs.
The January Labour Force figures released today show there are 581,000 Australians without a job in the middle of a cost of living crisis. That’s 5200 more unemployed Australians than in the previous month.
Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said: “Australians are paying the price for a government that’s been asleep at the wheel when it comes to economic management.
“Jobs have been all that have kept people afloat during Labor’s cost of living crisis. And now, Labor’s policies to increase to the cost of everything is coming home to roost.
“This is a government that thinks it can spin and spend its way out of a cost of living crisis. But Australians have been left to pay the price.
“After spending $450 million on their failed referendum and adding $209 billion of extra spending, the government will now spend $40 million to try and justify their broken promise on stage three tax cuts.
“This is a consequence of a government without a proper economic plan.”
Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Senator Michaelia Cash said: “The problem we have is that the Albanese Government keeps making decisions that do nothing to help create jobs.”
“Business has been very clear in their view that Labor’s radical industrial relations agenda, the latest of which was rammed through the Parliament last week, will mean fewer jobs and higher costs for all Australians,’’ Senator Cash said.
“The latest industrial relations changes allow union officials to enter any workplace without notice, replace the current clear law on who is a casual with three pages and fifteen factors, and a range of other measures that will be detrimental to the economy, productivity and jobs,’’ she said.
“Labor has put industry and employers in an unworkable position. Rather than respond to stakeholder feedback, Labor has instead chosen to pursue nonsensical changes as part of a union agenda and alliance with the Greens,’’ Senator Cash said.
Labor’s latest legislation is estimated to see prices for food delivery or rideshare services increase by up to 35%
“This Government just keeps putting the job creators of this nation under pressure with their complex and costly workplace laws and will end up sending some small businesses to breaking point,’’ Senator Cash said.