Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Between March and August, there was a 6.2 per cent decrease in the number of jobs for those aged 15 to 34; in contrast, over the same time, the decline in jobs for those aged over 35 was 1.7 per cent—that is, there has been more than three times the impact on those younger workers under 35. The effect is even more stark when you look at the hours worked. Over that same time, the number of hours worked by those aged 15 to 34 declined by 8.5 per cent, while, for those aged over 35, the decline was 2.3 per cent. That means the effect has been four times greater.

The Liberals and Nationals believe that, when people are at the age for starting their working life, they shouldn't be starting it in unemployment and on welfare. Our plan is to ensure that young people get into jobs and that they experience the benefit of jobs for their full lifetime. Having policies that would see them stay unemployed and commence their working lives on welfare—that's not the way I want to see an Australian start their working life in this country. Our budget is designed to address that during one of the worst crises, economically, this country has seen, and certainly the worst crisis since the Great Depression. We make no apology for wanting to see young people in work. Our budget looks to get those young people back into work and to back them each and every day. That was a principle understood by Julia Gillard. It was a principle understood by Paul Keating. It's understood by this government. (Time expired)

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