$4-an-hour intern scheme is unfair and would struggle in a future senate: Greens

The Government should rethink their proposed intern scheme that pays below minimum wage with news the scheme could be illegal.

“The $4-per-hour intern scheme could be a breach of minimum wage standards, is wide open to exploitation and would struggle in a future senate if the coalition were to pursue it post-election”, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

“The liberal party are spruiking the intern scheme as a centrepiece to their campaign but it is an unfair approach. The Government has cut funding to genuine apprenticeships and is now putting in place this poor substitute to proper training.

"Estimates last week exposed a variety of concerns with this approach, this scheme is wide open to youth exploitation that could set back young people. Youth unemployment should not be used as an excuse to provide a cheap labour source for business”.