Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) it has been reported that a coffee chain in Melbourne allowed an intern to work hours well beyond the maximum 50 hours per fortnight as part of the Government's Youth Jobs PaTH program, and rostered on another young job seeker before the internship had even begun, and

  (ii) on both occasions, management at the coffee chain offered visa gift cards as payment;

(b) acknowledges that:

  (i) we are already seeing allegations of exploitation as predicted just months into the program, and

  (ii) similar internship programs overseas saw systemic exploitation and churn, and this was repeatedly raised as a concern; and

(c) calls on the Government to:

  (i) permanently ban the coffee chain responsible from further partaking in the Government's Youth Jobs PaTH program, and

  (ii) carry out an audit as a matter of urgency of the Youth Jobs PaTH program to ensure no other employers are exploiting young job seekers.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government fully supports the PaTH program, which has resulted in almost 10,000 young people getting jobs. This program is clearly working. The business mentioned in this motion was recently removed from the program immediately following allegations regarding breaches of their conditions, and the Department of Employment is conducting an audit of participating employers. The PaTH program contains stringent safeguards. All internships are voluntary and must be agreed between the employer and the intern. To be eligible to host an internship, a business must have a reasonable prospect of employment for the intern. If the intern is dissatisfied, they can leave at any time during the internship without penalty.

Question agreed to.