Unemployment Rises Again But The Only Jobs The Humphries Government Are Trying To Save Are Their Own

Wayne Berry - Opposition Spokesperson on Employment

Media Statement - 10 May 2001

After 5 months of calling on Chief Minister Gary Humphries to come up with a plan to address the rising unemployment rate in the ACT it is clear that, in the lead up to the ACT Legislative Assembly election in October, the only jobs this Government is interested in are their own, Labor Shadow Employment Minister Wayne Berry said today.

Mr Berry was commenting on the April Labour Force figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

"For the 5th month in a row the unemployment rate in the ACT has risen, 5% of Canberrans are looking for work. For the 6th month in a row employment has fallen - 3,300 jobs have disappeared while this Chief Minister sits on his hands," Mr Berry said.

"The warning signs have been there for months and months, I have been urging the Chief Minister to address the problem before it gets out of control. But the budget issued last week offered no answers - there's still no plan to address the ACT's rising unemployment rate.

"What is clear in last week's budget is that all Mr Humphries is interested in is winning the next election. Lots of election sweeteners but nothing for the future.

"The 8,900 unemployed, 300 extra this month alone, have been offered no solution, no answers no plan. Combined with the falling ANZ job advertisement series and the falling business confidence we are in for a rough time under this Chief Minister," Mr Berry concluded.