[Greens-Media] New figures on youth unemployment highlight Abbott's policy flaws

[Redman, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

Media Release

16 November 2014

New figures on youth unemployment highlight Abbott's policy flaws

The Australian Greens said today that a new report showing high levels of unemployment and under employment among younger Australians shows the short-sighted nature of the Abbott Government's targeting of jobseekers aged under 30.

"AMP and NATSEM have shown that are significant issues with unemployment and underemployment, which puts paid to the Government's flawed thinking when it comes to young jobseekers. This report shows how hard the environment is for young jobseekers. It is not that they don't want to work but that they can't find work," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on family and community services said today.

"This is not a case of people being ‘leaners' - it is a case of people being unable to enter the workforce even when they have furthered their education and training.

"Tony Abbott's plans to cut income support for jobseekers under 30 and expose people to unproven work for the dole regimes will not address these issues. Instead, people who are trying to do the right thing will be punished and exposed to poverty.

"Forcing people off income support is an uninformed response to the issue of youth unemployment. It reflects the Government's interest in saving money on the backs of the most vulnerable.

"The Government should be putting an emphasis on working with jobseekers, employers and education and training providers to help people transition into full time work.

"Denying people access to income support and exposing them to poverty will create additional barriers to employment that makes finding work even harder than it already is," Senator Siewert concluded.