Mr HARDGRAVE —My question is to the Minister for Employment Services. Can the minister provide the House with any information regarding the Brisbane City Council's use of currently available employment service programs? How does this compare with the Brisbane City Council's application for and use of similar former programs? Have there been any criticisms of the Brisbane City Council's approach, and what is the government's response to those criticisms?

Mr ABBOTT (Employment Services) —I thank the member for Moreton for his question. Work for the Dole is, of course, one of the signature programs of the Howard government and it is giving new hope and new opportunities to long-term unemployed people in Brisbane, as elsewhere. Unfortunately, even though people such as the member for Melbourne now admit that Working Nation was an expensive failure, there are still too many people associated with the Labor Party who hanker for the good old days.

Mr Tanner —That's a lie! You're a liar!

Mr SPEAKER —The member for Melbourne will withdraw that statement.

Mr Nairn —It should be unqualified.

Mr SPEAKER —I will determine whether it is qualified or unqualified, Member for Eden-Monaro. The member for Melbourne knows the obligation he faces.

Mr Tanner —I withdraw that statement, Mr Speaker.

Mr ABBOTT —I am advised by the member for Moreton that senior officers of the Brisbane City Council have told one of Australia's leading and most respected charities that the Brisbane City Council will not cooperate in putting together a Work for the Dole application because the Brisbane City Council has said that it is philosophically opposed to the scheme and that it wants it to fail. This is very sad for the 100 youngsters who would have benefited from this Work for the Dole project, and it illustrates appalling double-standards on the part of Brisbane City Council because between 1992 and 1996 the Labor controlled Brisbane City Council—

Dr Theophanous —Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. Is it appropriate for the minister to be criticising the council on mere hearsay when he has no evidence. I think that is very inappropriate behaviour in this House.

Mr SPEAKER —The member for Calwell will resume his seat. The Speaker has no reason to believe that there is anything insubstantial about anything the minister has said. I call the minister.

Mr ABBOTT —Thank you, Mr Speaker. Between 1992 and 1996, the Labor controlled Brisbane City Council hosted no fewer than 3,300 labour market program places and, in the process, received $28 million in federal taxpayer funds.

Opposition members interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —The minister will resume his seat. The chair earlier warned the member for the Northern Territory. He persists with interjections; he will excuse himself from the House under provisions of 304A.

Mr Snowdon interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —The member for the Northern Territory may wish to consult the Hansard greens at the conclusion of question time.

Mr Snowdon —But I have not spoken.

Mr SPEAKER —The member for the Northern Territory is asked to leave the House under standing order 304A and will do so.

Mr Snowdon interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —I name the member for the Northern Territory.

Motion (by Mr McGauran) put:

That the member for the Northern Territory be suspended from the service of the House.

The House divided. [2.55 p.m.]

(Mr Speaker—Mr Neil Andrew)

Ayes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Noes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

——

Majority . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

——

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Voting details are recorded in the Votes and Proceedings

Mr SPEAKER —The honourable member is suspended from the service of the House for 24 hours.

The honourable member for the Northern Territory thereupon withdrew from the chamber.

Mr ABBOTT —Over four years, Brisbane City Council has hosted 3,300 labour market program places but has not put its hand up for a single Work for the Dole place.

Mr Martin Ferguson —Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. It goes to the question of relevance. The question specifically related to Work for the Dole. The minister has consistently said that Work for the Dole is not a labour market program. As far as I am concerned, he should return to the question which was about Work for the Dole and not successful Working Nation Labor Party programs.

Mr Hardgrave —Mr Speaker, I simply raise a point of order following on from the member for Batman's contribution. I guess it has been some time since he heard the question, but I asked about current as well as former programs.

Mr SPEAKER —The member for Moreton is not raising a point of order. The Speaker was about to rule on the member for Batman's point of order. The minister was asked a question about the Brisbane City Council and its attitude to labour market programs. I deem the minister to be in order and invite him to return to his answer.

Mr ABBOTT —Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am advised that only 31 per cent of participants in Brisbane City Council's programs achieve positive outcomes compared with 45 per cent of Work for the Dole people going on to paid employment or training. I think it is time that members opposite stopped trying to sabotage Work for the Dole. It is time that the Brisbane City Council stopped playing party politics with the future of unemployed young Australians and started cooperating with community groups that want to benefit from this program.