Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Abetz. I refer to the minister's statement in July: 'What we're asking most of the job seekers to do is to seek a job of a morning and of an afternoon and I think that is a reasonable request.' I also refer to his statement last week that 'getting people to apply for 40 jobs in a meaningless way will achieve no purpose and, what's more, be a real burden to small businesses especially in regional areas.' Which statement does the minister stand by?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Both.

Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question and I note that again the minister is conflicted in his statement. Is the minister aware that, while there are more than 19,500 people looking for work in Tasmania, the most recent internet vacancy index shows only 1,751 newly lodged job vacancies have been advertised? How are job seekers supposed to find 40 appropriate jobs to apply for each month?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It might come as a surprise to this so-called champion of the workers sitting on the other side that the vast majority of jobs are filled in Australia without there being an actual job advertisement that is publicly identifiable. That is the reality and indeed the job service providers only deal with about 10 per cent or, indeed, less than 10 per cent—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not know if those opposite are interested in hearing the facts, but the fact is that job service providers only place about 10 per cent into jobs. The vast majority of Australians find their own job through a whole range of other mechanisms. I would have thought Senator Brown would have been aware of that, but sadly she is not.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Cameron and Senator Carr.

Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a further supplementary question. I refer to comments made by Reserve Bank board member Heather Ridout, who declared the government's plan to keep young job seekers off Newstart allowance for six months to be 'ideological and far too harsh'. Is Ms Ridout right?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Ridout, like all Australians, is entitled to her point of view. With respect to her, I disagree with her assessment of what we announced in recent times. I can simply say that, for those who are unemployed, their full-time job should be to seek a job. I think we should, and could, all be agreed in relation to that. That is a very important aspect that I think most Australians would agree with. In relation to our policies of seeking—

Senator Carol Brown interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Brown, you have asked the question.

Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He is not answering it!

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brown, you have asked the question. Stop interjecting.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Do we want every possible Australian in a job? Of course we do. That is why we are trying to fix the economy and that is why I am so delighted that we have finally got rid of the carbon tax, and now the mining tax, which will see jobs growth continue in this country.

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.