Luke Howarth (Petrie, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to talk on this topic as well because one of the suburbs in my electorate was also named in the headlines yesterday in different papers right around the country. I think it was at No. 5, Deception Bay. Yes, there are people on welfare in my electorate in Deception Bay and, yes, there are some people that are not doing the right thing. But, overwhelmingly, the majority of people are hardworking; they go to work each day and they pay off their house. I will tell you what, I do not mind the truth being told, and that is what I endeavour to do as the member for Petrie. I endeavour to tell the truth and to talk about local issues. The fact is that, when it comes to welfare, one of those suburbs in my electorate has a higher percentage than normal.

As a member it is good for me to know that so I can address it, so I can continue to do things like my jobseeker boot camps that I do right around the electorate. We have good form in Petrie. Since the 2013 election, when I was elected, we have seen a big drop in youth unemployment. A lot of that has come down to jobseeker boot camps, encouraging businesses to hire local people. The member for Barton, opposite, gets up and reflects on the—I am out, regularly, talking to Centrelink officers in my electorate as well.

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