Senator WEST —My question is addressed to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs. Has the minister been informed of the chaos in Katoomba in the electorate of Macquarie where, despite promises, there is no government jobs agency available? Is the minister aware that the CES office has shut and has a sign on the door telling job seekers to trudge half a kilometre away to what is now a non-existent Employment National office, hidden up a flight of stairs in a dingy building? Is the minister aware that when an Employment National office finally opens in Katoomba, it will only be available on Wednesdays from 9.30 a.m. until 3.30 p.m.? Can the minister explain how this is an improvement on the old CES, which was open and available to the people of Katoomba five days a week?

Senator ELLISON (Schools, Vocational Education and Training) —I will certainly look into the point that Senator West raises. While I am answering this question, can I just say that there are some 1,400 sites which have replaced 296 sites formerly run by the CES so, across Australia, there is a many-fold increase in the number of sites available to job seekers. In relation to the particular instance Senator West has raised, I will look into that.