Mr BARRESI (12:35 PM) —The introduction of Job Network on 1 May will give job seekers far more choices in selecting job referral centres and a greater opportunity to match employment with their aptitude. In Melbourne's eastern suburbs we have been well served by the employment initiatives of the Howard government.

Apprenticeships and training programs have been brought back from the dead after 13 years of Labor neglect and my electorate of Deakin has benefited greatly from these increased vocational opportunities.

Job Network will expand upon gains already made by this government in helping people find work. For too long the unemployed were treated like products riding a conveyor belt on a production line. If one passed all the checks along the way, there was a slim possibility of a job at the end of the line.

For the many who did not make it to the end, there would be training programs where long-term unemployed without skills for the work force were directed toward positions for which they may or may not have been suited. But more importantly for the ALP and the former employment minister Beazley, they had them off the books of long-term unemployed.

Mr Deputy Speaker, the retraining gurus got their money whether there were successful job outcomes or not. Everyone was a winner, except the unemployed who genuinely wanted work. Constituents in the electorate of Deakin have consistently made two points to me when telling me about their treatment as job seekers: firstly, they had little or no contact for months with their case manager and secondly, their time was being wasted by attending compulsory group sessions. The minimum level of assistance was all they received. We believe that people deserve better and Job Network in itself, will become a departure from Labor's failed policies that delivered programs but no jobs.

Job Network is also a timely recognition that new ground must be broken to drag down unemployment levels and the time spent between jobs. With the organisations that will comprise the Job Network, the pay-off will come at the same time that it comes for their client: when that client is placed in a job. This should ensure that there are significant efforts on behalf of each client.

I am pleased to inform the unemployed in Deakin—the seven per cent according to the December figures—that many of the Job Network providers have considerable experience in placing people in positions. Deakin and Melbourne's east will be well served by the network. The 10 providers judged the most suitable have been Inner East Group Training; Connect Employment and Trading Services; Job Support Vic; Mission Australia; Indo-Chinese Employment Service; Salvation Army; AHEIC Chandler; Melbourne East Group Training; Employment National, which is the revamped CES; and KYM, which is the amalgamation of three skillshare providers in the eastern suburbs—Yarra Ranges, Krest and Merit of Ringwood. Of those 10 job providers who won contracts for the eastern suburbs, five are existing local providers.

To those who tendered and missed out, opportunities exist for subcontracting to the winning providers. I note, Mr Deputy Speaker, with interest that Saturday's press featured in its employment pages an advertisement from Melbourne East Group Training, a very reputable and well-known organisation in the eastern suburbs. They were calling on applications for 49 positions, including field staff, customer service personnel, job club leaders and administrative assistants. No doubt, the other organisations will also be looking for new personnel to serve their clientele.

These changes will provide a level of service and opportunity not before offered to job seekers. Job matching, job search training, intensive assistance, new enterprise schemes and apprenticeship and training services are the types of services which will be available for those hunting for a job. Of course, this comes on top of the very successful job pathway program in the eastern suburbs—$348,000, the largest job pathway program in the country. They are very close to meeting their targets by the end of April. It comes on top of the one-stop shop in Ringwood, the only one-stop shop that actually looks after the needs of the young kids as well as serving the needs of the employers. They are very successful programs that have been initiated by this government.

In the very near future, I will be hosting a meeting of all of these providers to find ways in which we can work together to maximise the impact of the scheme. Mr Deputy Speaker, all these providers should be congratulated and I will certainly be endeavouring to work with them in partnership as I have done in the past two years. I congratulate them and look forward to continued successful outcomes for the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. (Time expired)