Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) acknowledges the success of the Wage Connect program in helping long term unemployed back into the workforce;

(b) expresses concern that this program has been suspended due to a high level of demand for this service; and

(c) calls on the Government to re-commence the scheme and increase the number of places available through it, particularly for older workers who face significant discrimination in the labour market.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The program to which the motion refers will be paused for new applicants from 6 December. All current Wage Connect subsidy agreements will continue as usual. This is the second consecutive year the program has been paused mid-year. The previous government should have fixed the design of the program but, like many other things, this government has been left to take action. The previous government's mismanagement has let down job seekers and the employers who would have given them an opportunity. Job seekers will still be supported by Job Services Australia providers, and providers will still be able to use the Employment Pathway Fund to pay wage subsidies.

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

While I do agree with the Assistant Minister for Social Services—in that the Labor Party also previously suspended this program—I do not agree with him that the government should also suspend it. We disagreed with the previous government suspending it. This is one of the programs that are actually working. It is having a significant impact on those long-term unemployed, particularly older workers who are subject to ageism and age discrimination. The number of older workers in long-term unemployment has gone up 28 per cent in three years.

Why suspend a program that is actually working? Our employment services in this country need significant improvement if we are actually going to help those long-term unemployed into work. It is not good enough for the government to say, 'That lot did it, so now we are going to do it.' They should take their own advice that they just tried to give, which was that the ALP should have done something about it. This government should do something about it and continue this program because it is genuinely helping. (Time expired)

Question agreed to.