2017-04-11
News today that Coalition backbenchers are lobbying to keep Work for the Dole in the upcoming budget because it is ‘red meat for the base’ shows that Liberal politicians are more worried about their own jobs than helping jobseekers find meaningful employment, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today.
“Work for the dole is a largely failed measure that forces struggling job seekers to complete often meaningless tasks as part of mutual obligations requirements just to receive support. People struggling to get into work have to complete mundane tasks that overwhelmingly do not move them into long term meaningful employment.
“Fighting to keep Work for the Dole purely to appease the conservative base when it is a failed measure shows a worrying pattern where Liberal backbenchers are not considering the real needs of their constituents.
“In the lead up to the budget, coalition backbenchers should lobby for the best results for their communities and those doing it tough.
“I urge Treasurer Morrison to consider the evidence rather than the whims of the ultra-conservative backbench when considering Work for the Dole in the next Federal Budget”.