Louise Markus (Macquarie, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Most of us would agree that many in our communities across the nation move from education to employment without significant challenge, and many others move freely within the job market, demonstrating the skills and the networks that secure a job. However, there are many men and women of working age in our communities who face challenges and barriers to varying degrees in obtaining a job. Some of that may be because of their capacity and skills, some of it may be because they do not have the connections or the relationships or the networks that would open doors of opportunities for them. We know that under the previous Labor government employment services were allowed to focus on process rather than results. Many of us in our electorates have had job seekers come to us having experienced training after training and they have certificate after certificate and that does not necessarily result in a connection with an employer.

Minister, with the Australian government's new employment services—that will be Jobactive, starting on 1 July—could you please advise, particularly for the people of Macquarie, how job seekers will benefit from the $6.8 billion in the budget for the Jobactive service model?

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