Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is always a pleasure to be able to stand in this place on behalf of the people of Goldstein, represent them and raise the questions that matter to them. One of the key issues that are raised with me regularly is from constituents, particularly those of mature age who are seeking employment opportunities because their previous employment may no longer be relevant or they may be seeking a different stage in their career, including a shift towards part-time work and making sure they are in the best position that they can be to secure employment to support their lives, to reduce their dependence on their superannuation and to be able to continue to enjoy the benefits and dignity that come with work. That is why, in the end, they are Liberals, and that is why I am so proud to represent them, because they understand those fundamental and important concepts of individual and personal responsibility.

These issues are particularly close to my heart because previously, in my former capacity as Australia's Human Rights Commissioner, I spent time working with the former Age Discrimination Commissioner, Susan Ryan, who was—shall we say—of a different political persuasion to mine but nonetheless a very good woman whom I have very high regard for. Former Commissioner Ryan ran an inquiry that produced a report called Willing to work: national inquiry into employment discrimination against older Australians and Australians with a disability, which was dealing specifically with the issues around age discrimination facing people who are older seeking work. I was very proud to support her with her important work in that space.

My concern, in that inquiry as it is now, is what the government is doing to support and assist those people of mature age to seek employment. What programs, Minister, are available to ensure that people of mature age are able to find a job and are then able to keep a job, because that is so important to their life to be able to support themselves and their sense of purpose of life? What support is the government providing in this budget to support mature-age workers so that they can continue to take responsibility for themselves, continue to contribute to our community and be part of the success story of this great nation?

See this speech in context