LABOR candidate for the state seat of Capalaba Don Brown has slammed changes to the Work For The Dole program.
Mr Brown, who won pre-selection for the seat held by the LNP’s Steve Davies, called for Premier Campbell Newman to apologise for cuts to Alexandra Hills TAFE.
He said it was a disgrace an automotive program at the campus was cut and massive fee increases instigated.
“On the one hand, we have an LNP federal government telling our young people to earn, learn or starve while the LNP state government is whacking up TAFE fees, making getting a trade even harder,” he said.
His comments come as the federal government moved on Monday to tighten regulations for the three-year, $5.1 billion program set to begin on July 1, 2015.
Under the new model, job seekers will be required to look for up to 40 jobs a month.
Those under 50 will also be required to participate in Work for the Dole for either 15 or 25 hours a week for six months a year, depending on their age.
Mr Brown said the measures would affect employers who would be swamped with thousands of “irrelevant” job applications.
“It also affects the job seeker who will be bogged down in red tape filling out forms and trying to find 40 jobs to apply for,” he said.
Federal MP Andrew Laming jumped to the defence of the controversial move claiming it would cut “red tape” for Redlands job seekers.
He said the new model, released on Monday, offered better outcomes for job seekers and employers, and better value for taxpayers’ money.
“In Redlands, we’ve got some of the best job providers in the country but the current Job Services Australia system is bogged down in red tape and has lost focus,” Mr Laming said.
“We’ve seen the number of people finding employment through the system steadily decrease overall and it’s clear we need a new approach.
“The best form of welfare is a job and that’s why we’re investing $1.5 billion over three years to reinvigorate employment services.”
The Business Council of Australia said it welcomed parts of the government's new model, such as the clearer targeting of assistance for people most in need, and the focus on rewarding job outcomes, but more action would be needed to find the right balance in connecting job seekers with employers.
David Thompson, the chief executive of Jobs Australia, which represents non-profit employment service providers, said he could not see how some young job seekers would be able to survive under the regime.