Mr VASTA (3:07 PM) —My question is addressed to the Minister for Workforce Participation. Will the minister inform the House how the government is helping more Australians to participate in the work force?

Mr DUTTON (Minister for Workforce Participation) —I thank the member for Bonner for his question. He is a great member and he is working hard. I know that he has a great interest in Work for the Dole activities and he does pretty well. This government is very proud of its record in putting people into work and helping people through employment programs. It is part of the reason that unemployment under this government has halved from what it was when the Leader of the Opposition was employment services minister. It is no wonder that we have also continued to increase participation rates in this country. We now have working age participation at the record level of 64.6 per cent and female participation at a record high of 57.1 per cent.

Tonight I will hand out awards at the Prime Minister’s Work for the Dole awards. The awards are recognition for excellence amongst the community work coordinators, the sponsors and those participants who have engaged in wonderful projects to help their communities. Over the last 12 months this government has been involved in placing 272,000 long-term unemployed people into work. There is more that we need to do, and this government will continue to do it and we will continue to support the unemployed in this country.

Mr Howard —Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.