Sharman Stone (Murray, Liberal Party, Minister for Workforce Participation) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Bonner for his question and congratulate him on an unemployment rate of 4.3 per cent amongst his constituents. Of course, the Labor legacy was unemployment at 6.7 per cent in the same region. Work for the Dole has been extraordinarily successful. While the Howard government has many employment and training programs that are superb, Work for the Dole is extraordinary. This is the 10th anniversary of this program. Work for the Dole recognises and overcomes the fact that the long-term unemployed can become dispirited and deskilled. They need real-life and current work experience and an opportunity to regain self-respect by giving back to the community whose taxpayers have been supporting them and their families.

There have been almost 31,000 projects over the 10 years, right across Australia, delivering great results to the community and to those individuals. Nearly half a million long-term unemployed Australians have taken part. Nearly 40 per cent of those job seekers completing their Work for the Dole projects have been moved into work, education or training just three months after their participation—and most went into work. Work for the Dole projects deliver work experience in areas of skills shortages in local areas. Training credits are earned as the individual works through their six months. The training then undertaken echoes the skills in demand in that region.

Because we paid down the Labor debt that we inherited in 1996 and have expertly managed the economy over the last 10 years, our government has been in a position to respond to the worst drought on record. Over $2 billion has gone directly to support drought affected farmers and small businesses. This government recognises that another victim of drought is the rural workforce, so Work for the Dole has been extended into Drought Force, a program that allows individuals driven out of their jobs by drought to work back on a farm, a drought stricken property. At the same time the worker receives Newstart allowance and a $1,600 training credit. This is a profoundly important program for the future of our rural populations.

It is extraordinary that Work for the Dole is missing from the vocabulary and the future plans of the Labor Party, including the opposition leader and those who sit opposite. Labor’s policy in relation to government provided employment services is barren. No doubt they hope the public will forget their legacy. They left unemployment and despair in 1996; we have brought back hope and employment to millions.

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