Senator MOORE (2:35 PM) —My question is to Senator Abetz, representing the Minister for Workforce Participation. Can the minister confirm that single parents and people with disabilities who receive Newstart instead of the pension after 1 July 2006 will no longer be eligible for the pensioner education supplement? Doesn’t this mean that single parents and people with disabilities who undertake approved education activities will no longer get the $62 per fortnight payment to help them with their training? Won’t this mean that these people will be forced to withdraw from their training activities because they cannot afford to pay for them? Why won’t the Howard government invest in the skills of welfare recipients to help them address Australia’s chronic skills shortage?

Senator ABETZ (Special Minister of State) —There seems to be an attack today in relation to what has been recognised quite broadly as a very good policy initiative of the government, and that is moving people from welfare to work. It is necessary for the individuals concerned, it is necessary for our society and it is also necessary for our economy. I have been asked about all the different variations, such as if you have a disability or if you are a single parent. We can have all the combinations that we like. At the end of the day, they are all available in the papers that have been put down by my colleague Mr Dutton.

The important point is that, from the vacuum of no policy, the Labor Party seeks to throw stones at our policy which is deliberately designed to assist people from welfare to work. Our financial package, which is in fact costing the taxpayer some considerable amount—I think it is $3.6 billion over the next three years—is designed to invest more money into getting people job ready and into the work force. There is a whole list of initiatives. For example, we have $120 million to extend entitlement to Youth Allowance, Austudy and Abstudy. We have $65.4 million to establish 24 new Australian technical colleges—a policy that I understand the Australian Labor Party at first opposed, then supported and then in fact did oppose. We have $28.7 million for tool kits for new apprentices starting apprenticeships in specific trades. We have $27.5 million for the Australian Network of Industry Career Advisers. We have $15.3 million for scholarships for new apprentices who successfully complete the first and second year of a new apprenticeship in a trade with skill needs.

Senator Carr —Too little, too late.

Senator ABETZ —Senator Carr says that it is all too late. I indicate to those on the other side: what did you say to the one million unemployed that you simply churned out and never looked after? We have halved that disgraceful number. The unemployment rate is continuing to go down and the reason it is going down is that we have in fact been looking after every sector in the work force, be it the young, be it the old, be it the disabled. We have sought—

Senator Carr —We are now importing boilermakers from China. A great start!

Senator ABETZ —Once again, I think we heard an interjection about imports from China.

Senator Carr —That is right, we did.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Senator ABETZ —And once again, the immigration issue is raised. That is a common theme that is developing amongst the Labor Party.

The PRESIDENT —Senator Abetz, ignore the interjections and address your remarks through the chair.

Senator Carr interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Senator Carr, come to order!

Senator ABETZ —Senator Carr only uses migrants for branch stacking. I thought you would have supported them coming to Australia. But, Mr President, when we have specific policies to train young Australians, like 24 new technical colleges—

Senator Robert Ray —Tell us all about it or shut up.

The PRESIDENT —Order! There is too much noise in the chamber on both sides. I ask the chamber to come to order.

Senator Robert Ray interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Senator Ray, I am on my feet, and I ask you to come to order!

Senator ABETZ —When we seek to do something for young Australians by establishing 24 new technical colleges, Labor condemn our policy. They do not want us to do anything of benefit for young Australians. (Time expired)

Senator MOORE —Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I remind the minister that my question related to a specific existing payment. We want to know: why has the government so arrogantly taken away from single parents and people with disabilities the financial assistance that they need to help them get training and education? How does the government expect single parents and people with disabilities to get the jobs, if they have not got the skills that employers need?

Senator ABETZ (Special Minister of State) —Mr President, I think they will wear out ‘A’ in their dictionaries soon. They are looking up ‘arrogant’ for question time and putting it into each question. The greatest arrogant disregard for the Australian unemployed was by those opposite when they presided over one million unemployed. I have today announced a range of schemes and initiatives that will assist people from welfare into work. I would have thought that the Labor Party might at least do the decent thing and embrace our policy in the absence of one of their own.

The PRESIDENT —Senator Murphy, I believe this may be your last question.