Questions over jobs expo for people with disabilities

On the eve of the Federal Government’s “Jobs and Skills Expo” in Hobart to be attended by the Prime Minister, questions have been raised about the commitment of her government to support workers with disabilities.

The Expo is promoted on its website as an opportunity to “provide you with information about real jobs now and into the future. You can also find out about training and gaining new skills to increase your chances of finding a job.”

Greens candidate for Denison, Anna Reynolds, said these aims of the Expo are undermined by the failure of the Federal Government to adequately include workers with disability in its Building Australia’s Future Workforce package.

She said the Disability Employment Services Wage Subsidy program has been suspended after just three months because of concern about escalating costs. This follows the suspension of another wage subsidy scheme called Wage Connect.

“It appears that the Federal Government is unwilling to invest more money in programs which help the jobless back into the workforce, particularly people with disabilities,” Anna Reynolds said.

“While the Jobs Expo may provide opportunities for some workers, people living with disabilities will miss out because the programs to support them are inadequate,” she said.

Anna Reynolds called on Jane Austin, the Labor Candidate for Denison, to urge the Prime Minister to use her Hobart visit to support all Australian workers and restore important subsidy schemes.

Here
Greens candidate for Denison, Anna Reynolds