John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I seek the indulgence of the chair to add to an answer.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister may proceed.

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have been informed, since I gave an answer on the long-term unemployed, that the monthly figure that came out today shows that the fall is now 21 per cent over the last 12 months.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I seek the indulgence of the chair to add to an answer.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister may proceed.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In relation to the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, I can confirm that the Workplace Authority staffing levels are increasing from around 250 to 800 staff and that in the interim, while they are recruiting those full-time staff, they have been employing temporary staff hired through three recruitment agencies. They can be classed as contract labour.

Honourable Member:

Honourable member—Backpackers?

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They do not know whether they are backpackers because they do not wear a backpack to work! But they can say—and I have been advised by the Workplace Authority—that experienced workplace relations practitioners make all of the decisions in relation to the fairness test.