Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The Building Australia's Future Workforce package very much targets each of the areas where people are facing disadvantage. We have encouraged more young Australians into work be it part time or full time by allowing jobseekers on youth allowance to keep more of what they earn through increasing the income area and increasing the working credit. We are providing single principal carer parents on Newstart allowance a more generous taper rate enabling them to earn up to $400 more per fortnight and retain some allowance and there will be 35,000 wage subsidies over the next four years for employers who take on the very long-term unemployed. We are also increasing the number of places in language, literacy and numeracy programs to assist jobseekers to improve their skills. All of these measures are about giving all Australians the opportunity to participate in economic activity, to gain access to employment and improve their life chances and the life chances of their children. I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.