Unemployment - 3000 Jobs Gone While Humphries Sits On His Hands

Wayne Berry - Opposition Spokesperson on Employment

Media Statement - 15 March 2001

While the Australian Bureau of Statistics Labour Force figures for February show unemployment in the ACT rising for the fourth consecutive month, the ACT Chief Minister Gary Humphries is still sitting on his hand, Labor Shadow Employment Minister Wayne Berry said today.

"The unemployment rate has gone from 4.5% in October to 5.0% in February while the Chief Minister continues to insist that the ACT economy is leading the country.

"When will we see proposals to deal with this emerging problem! When will we see a plan to grapple with rising employment!," Mr Berry asked.

"A particularly disturbing aspect of our employment figures is the falling employment level. Since September last year 3000 jobs have disappeared, 2000 of them full-time.

"But still the Chief Minister insists that all is well. For months I have been calling on the Chief Minister to outline his plans to deal with our rising unemployment but he has done anything.

"We can expect falling employment and rising unemployment to impact on other sectors of the economy but the Chief Minister is in denial," Mr Berry concluded.