Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I want to ask the Minister representing the Minister for Employment particular questions in reference to Work for the Dole. I wanted to draw his attention to the performance of the program which, according to the government's own figures tabled in response to questions on notice, shows that roughly 90 per cent of the young participants in that program fail to be in full-time employment three months after exiting the program. I also refer the minister to the statement today by Renee Leon, the secretary of the department, who told estimates 'the purpose of Work for the Dole is not necessarily to lead directly to a full-time job'.

I ask the minister: does he believe that a roughly 90 per cent failure rate for the Work for the Dole program is an acceptable outcome for the government and young Australians? Can the minister outline what plans the government has to ensure that Work for the Dole will not just get young people ready for work but actually get them work? Or does the minister acknowledge the Turnbull government has given up on the ability of the Work for the Dole program to help young Australians get jobs?

And while we are talking about that program, can I also ask some questions relating in particular to the terrible fatality of a young Work for the Dole participant in Toowoomba, in April this year. I understand that the department has undertaken an internal review of the matter as it relates to the operation of the deed with respect to the maintenance of appropriate workplace health and safety standards for both the providers and the hosts. I note that the government has acknowledged today that this internal review has been completed and that the minister has seen the report.

Also, if I may through you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and through the minister, I thank Minister Cash for two in-depth briefings—verbal briefings—that I received into that internal review and its findings. I have previously asked for copies of that report, which I am waiting to receive. I ask the minister when that report will be made public? Does he accept that the release of the report will help build confidence that the Work for the Dole program is maintaining appropriate workplace health and safety standards? And can the minister advise why an internal departmental review that concentrates on the application of the deed, without in-depth reference to the particulars of the incident and the fatality itself cannot be released ahead of the issue of the Queensland workplace health and safety regulator releasing its report?

See this speech in context