Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Hansard source

As I travel around Australia, like so many on this side, and talk to people who have got off welfare and got into a job, they tell me things like: 'Getting a job has increased my self-esteem and my wellbeing,' and, 'It is providing me with the opportunity to become a role model for people in my family, for friends, to show them what I can be.' Ultimately, for the taxpayer, getting people off welfare and into work means we pay out less in social security payments.

When it comes to getting youth off welfare and into work, the Turnbull government has invested in our Youth Jobs PaTH program. Again, I am pleased to advise the Senate that since January of this year more than 14,000 young people previously reliant on welfare have had the opportunity to move into employment, thanks to youth bonus wage subsidies. Again, we believe that the best form of welfare is a job, and these figures reflect that.

Senator O'Neill interjecting—