Matt Williams (Hindmarsh, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Assistant Minister for Employment. What is the minister's response to comments by the Premier of South Australia that youth unemployment in northern Adelaide is a 'tiny number' and that Australian Bureau of Statistics data are 'nonsense'? What is the government doing to support young job seekers in northern Adelaide and elsewhere?

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Assistant Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for his question. The issue of youth unemployment is a very important issue and I was stunned by the comments of the Labor Premier of South Australia in today's Australian.

Mr Champion interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Wakefield!

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Assistant Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was stunned by the Labor Premier in today's Australian. Unemployed young people in northern Adelaide—

Mr Champion interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Wakefield is warned!

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Assistant Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

should be disturbed and disgusted that their Labor Premier—

Mr Conroy interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Charlton is warned!

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Assistant Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That their Labor Premier would describe their plight as—

Mr Champion interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Wakefield will remove himself under 94(a). He is a very slow learner. The minister will continue.

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Assistant Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We believe every young Australian should have the opportunity to have a job. This government believes that youth unemployment needs to be addressed. The Leader of the Opposition in South Australia, Steven Marshall, clearly takes this issue seriously and it is about time the Labor Premier of South Australia did the same. Federal Labor created this problem. Youth unemployment increased by almost three per cent when they were in office—55,000 more young people are unemployed as a result of their failed policies. By contrast, this government has a comprehensive plan to address the issue of youth unemployment.

Opposition members interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Those on my left will desist!

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Assistant Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We will introduce legislation to give effect to our Job Commitment Bonus, which encourages young people to get and keep a job. We will introduce a new relocation assistance program which will help young people move to where the jobs are. But the most important thing that a government can do to help young people is to develop a strong economy, and we have the plan to do that. It is just unfortunate that the Leader of the Opposition in this place sees fit to stand in the way of creating opportunities for young people through the repeal of the carbon tax, standing in the way of the repeal of the mining tax and the opportunities that that would create for young people, and standing in the way of implementation of the ABCC that has the potential to create so many jobs in the construction industry for which young people could be eligible. One thing that the Leader of the Opposition and the Premier of South Australia have in common is that they care little for the jobs of young people. It is about time that the Leader of the Opposition got out of the way.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, could the minister please table the extraordinary document he was reading from.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Was the member reading from a document?

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Assistant Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister was not reading from a document.