Budget tough on SW jobseekers

Tough new measures announced in the Abbott Government’s first Budget will make life “very difficult” for Busselton’s unemployed young people, according to a local training and community services provider.

The Federal Government’s Department of Employment revealed the South West’s unemployment rate for 15 to 24-year-olds was 9.5 per cent in March.

From July 1, school leavers or newly unemployed young people seeking government assistance must wait six months before qualifying for support and work-for-the dole measures will force 18 to 30-year-olds to “earn or learn”.

The Department of Social Services said 1043 job seekers were receiving Newstart and Youth Allowance in Busselton during March and 1083 in February.

Jobs South West chief executive Posy Barnes said a $405 million funding reduction would put considerable pressure on the services of not-for-profit organisations delivering services to young people.

“Grants and services for young people will be reduced, ” she said.

“Furthermore, as the Budget reduces resources to the sector it will increase demand for services.

“It will be much harder to collect unemployment benefits and unemployed life is set to become very difficult for young people.”

City of Busselton community services manager Maxine Palmer said there was no doubt unemployed youth would find the Federal Government’s new measures “tough”.

“There are limited job opportunities in the South West and work that is easy to pick up tends to be seasonal, ” she said.

“The metropolitan area offers greater opportunity.

“Transport to the main industries for local employment in hospitality, agriculture and viticulture is also limited, with a reliance on young people having their own vehicle.

“Limited opportunities for careers in information technology which are attractive to young people will often result in them moving to Perth for more job options.”

Mission Australia WA State director Melissa Perry said while the Budget forecast unemployment would rise, there was no investment in helping young people make the transition from education to employment.

She said cuts to support payments for under-30s threatened to leave unemployed young Australians with no support at all for months on end.

Federal Member for Forrest Nola Marino said the measures were “new ways to encourage and assist people back into the workplace”.

She said the region would also benefit from $500,000 funding for the Busselton Airport terminal expansion among other initiatives.