Video Information


Below: On May 16, 2014, the ABC’s 7.30 program in Tasmania interviewed two young Tasmanian graduates on the probable impact of denying people unemployment benefits for six months.




Below: On May 24 2014 Channel Ten’s The Project released a comedy skit on the public response to recent Budget proposals. It includes comments on restrictions to Newstart.




Below: On May 15 2014 the Treasurer, Joe Hockey, defended the government’s strategies within the Budget to tackle unemployment. (Please note only the first 3 minutes and 45 secs of this clip is relevant.)




Below: A July 29, 2011, Al Jazeera report on youth unemployment in Australia.






Web links, documents


On September 30, 2014, (Australian Council of Social Services) published a report and comment titled 'Government report finds plan to deprive young people of income support breaches human rights'
The piece deals with the findings of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights which recently found that both the proposal to deny young people income support for six months of every year, and to lift the age of eligibility for the Newstart Allowance from 22 to 25 years, breach Australia's human rights obligations.
The full text can be accessed at http://www.acoss.org.au/media/release/government_report_finds_plan_to_deprive_young_people_of_income_support_brea

On September 30, 2014, ABC News published a report titled 'Backbencher backs calls for dole waiting period after report argues proposal will breach human rights'
The report looks at a range of responses to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights finding that both the proposal to deny young people income support for six months of every year, and to lift the age of eligibility for the Newstart Allowance from 22 to 25 years, breach Australia's human rights obligations.
The report can be accessed at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-30/dole-wait-will-breach-human-rights-bipartisan-report-finds/5777882

0n September 29, 2014, The Guardian published an analysis by Greg Jericho titled 'The tough fight for jobs is not getting easier - and a turnaround is unlikely'
The article examines Australia's most recent employment data and shows, for example, that there are 7.1 job seekers for every vacancy advertised in Victoria.
The full text of this piece can be accessed at http://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2014/sep/29/the-tough-fight-for-jobs-is-not-getting-any-easier

On September 24, 2014, the National Welfare Rights Network published a comment titled 'New Zealand does not have dangerous four week waiting period for unemployed'.
The comment is a response to claims by welfare minister, Kevin Andrews, that New Zealand had a four week waiting period before unemployed people were able to access benefits.
The full text of this comment can be accessed at https://www.welfarerights.org.au/news/2014/9/24/media-release-24-september-2014

On September 23, 2014, the ABC's radio current affairs program 'The World Today' published a report titled 'Minister Andrews rejects Labor claim he 'fabricated' NZ one-month dole wait period'
The report quotes welfare minister, Kevin Andrews', response to accusations that he had made false claims about welfare provisions in New Zealand.
The full text of this report can be accessed at http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2014/s4092911.htm

On September 9, 2014, ACOSS (Australian Council of Social Services) published an opinion piece titled 'Evidence based Youth Employment Strategy needed, not more ad hoc policy ideas'
The piece calls on the government to take a pro-active approach to jobs creation and challenges its current strategies as not being evidence-based.
The full text of the comment can be found at http://www.acoss.org.au/media/release/evidence_based_youth_employment_strategy_needed_not_more_ad_hoc_policy_idea
     
On September 3, 2014, The Australian published a news report titled 'Newstart breakthrough hopes rise'
The report addresses claims by Clive Palmer that his party might be willing to accept a one month waiting period for unemployment benefits rather than a six-month one.
The full text of this report can be found at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/newstart-breakthrough-hopes-rise/story-fn59niix-1227045596076?sv=bfdd0543b552f89bf75dc6b97f89adae

On August 1, 2014, the ABC's current affairs opinion site, The Drum, published a comment by Simon Cowan titled 'Unemployment crackdown: one size doesn't fit all'
The piece argues that a number of current procedures and projected policies for dealing with the unemployed are inappropriate.
The full text can be accessed at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-01/cowan-paternalism-for-all-does-not-work/5641674

On May 24, 2014 The Sydney Morning Herald published a report titled, 'Young people on Newstart forced to beg and approach charities'
The article looks at survey results for young people living in Western Sydney who have been on Newstart for over a year.
The full text of this report can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/national/young-people-on-newstart-forced-to-beg-and-approach-charities-20140523-38ufw.html

On May 21, 2014, Pro Bono Australia published a report of Treasurer Joe Hockey's defence of a range of Budget provisions to the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS).
The full report can be accessed at http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2014/05/hockey-defends-%E2%80%98remedial%E2%80%99-budget-not-profits#

On May 3, 2014, Business Insider Australia published an analysis by Sarah Kimmorley titled 'There Are Pros And Cons In Abbott's Plan To Tackle Youth Unemployment'
The analysis looks at some of the advantages and disadvantages of the government's plans for dealing with youth unemployment.
The full text can be accessed at http://www.businessinsider.com.au/pros-and-cons-in-abbott-plans-to-tackle-youth-unemployment-2014-5

On February 4, 2014, economics editor for The Australian, Judith Sloan, wrote an opinion piece titled 'Work for Dole is morally just'
The argument defends work for the dole schemes from an ethical standpoint.
The full text of the piece can be accessed at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/work-for-dole-is-morally-just/story-fnbkvnk7-1226816996312