Friday, August 08, 2014

ACTU: No Jobs and No Vision under Abbott Government

07 August, 2014 | Media Release

Unemployment has hit a 12 year high while the Abbott Government has been focused on punishing Australians with its cruel budget measures instead of creating jobs.


The 6.4% unemployment rate is the highest since June 2002, said ACTU President Ged Kearney.

“The Abbott Government’s budget is not just a political failure, but an economic failure as well,” said Ms Kearney.

“Australia needs a plan for jobs, not a plan to slash the social safety net.”

There are now 789,000 unemployed Australians but only 146,100 available jobs, said Ms Kearney.

“Yet just last week the Abbott Government revealed its plans to make job seekers apply for 40 jobs a month – where are the jobs for them to apply for?
“No matter how many applications people send out, 789,000 people can’t fit into 146,000 vacancies.

Australians want a Government with a plan to address job creation and strengthen the economy – not a Government that is intent on punishing hardworking Australians and the most vulnerable in our community, said Ms Kearney.

“Instead the Abbott Government’s answer is to slash public sector jobs, cut $500 million out of the budget for skills and training and shut down investment in clean energy jobs.”
“The Government has refused to support industries in restructuring, such as automotive industry, causing tens of thousands of jobs to be lost.”

Instead of trying to make people pay more for medications and to visit the GP, Tony Abbott should be telling Australians how he is going to create jobs, said Ms Kearney.

“These shocking unemployment figures show just how sadly lacking the Government’s economic vision for Australia really is.”


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