Chris Crewther (Dunkley, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Firstly, I would like to welcome and thank the minister for joining us in the Federation Chamber today. I acknowledge that this is not, technically, your own portfolio but we appreciate you representing it here today to answer questions and to enable us to speak directly about the aspects of the employment portfolio that affect the constituents of Dunkley.

As the youngest member of the House of Representatives I hear from many constituents about their concerns related to youth unemployment. Dunkley is an incredibly diverse electorate and statistics there reflect trends observed right across Australia. Young people everywhere struggle to combat unemployment and, increasingly, underemployment. Fifteen- to 24-year-olds, in particular, experience unemployment at a rate approximately double that of the rest of the working-age population.

Often, people remark on the fact that apart from the retail and hospitality industries, which have more of a focus on the youngest of the youth cohort, employers regularly demand experience in an industry before employing an individual. Yet people are often unable to obtain this experience, because of the lack of avenues to do so. I am frequently, therefore, asked how someone starting out in the workforce is able to get experience in an industry for the first time.

It is for this reason that, when I heard of the Youth Jobs PaTH: Prepare, Trial, Hire legislation, I was very enthusiastic about it. This program will provide young people with the experience and avenues needed to obtain meaningful employment and avoid welfare dependency. Currently, unemployment and underemployment are concerningly high. My concern for Dunkley residents is that this can affect self-confidence, particularly, among young people who are unemployed or underemployed. The parallel phenomenon of welfare dependency is crippling for self-esteem and takes away the independence that people work so hard for these days.

If we can help people out of the debilitating cycle of applying for jobs, being rejected due to a lack of experience and, then, needing to claim welfare payments, which require them to apply for more jobs, we should embrace the opportunity without hesitation. Despite the phrase first rising to fame 52 years ago—18 years before I was born—'We are talking about my generation,' this is part of generation Y and most of generation Z, people who are unlike me, my wife, Grace, and many of our friends. People I have spoken to in my community about the Youth Jobs PaTH Program have all reacted positively to the increased access to employment, training and opportunities this would provide to young people.

As I mentioned in the House when I spoke on this bill, a constituent of mine in Langwarrin recently was in the news for having applied for over 200 jobs but had been rejected each time. Young people want to work. They want a job, but systemic barriers in many industries are preventing them from accessing work. There is plenty of evidence that lots of people are trying but are being knocked back because they have not had the chance to develop job skills or get experience in the industry, or have not been able to find someone willing to give them a go.

With these objectives in mind, Minister, could you please elaborate on the reception of the Youth Jobs PaTH Program but particularly from employers and industry leaders that the government has spoken to? Do they feel similarly about the program and do they believe that the additional support provided will help them access a previously inaccessible and willing sector of the workforce? What feedback have they provided regarding the projected outcomes and implementation?

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