The Government’s latest efforts to damn the work-for-dole scheme are simply an attempt to mask the fact that the planned scrapping of the scheme is ideologically and not factually driven, ACT Employment Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman said.

“ACT has asked a number of Parliamentary questions about this scheme. We know that of the people who left the work-for-dole scheme in September last year only 44 percent were still on a benefit six months later.

“In addition, over half of those people who had left, had found some sort of work or gone on to training.

“By contrast some 52 percent of those completing the other major programme, the Training Opportunities Scheme (TOPS), over the same period, were still on a benefit.

“The facts speak for themselves. The Government, to try and appease those offended about the idea of working for the dole, is proposing to scrap a scheme that works better than favoured alternatives. This Government is ignoring the importance of creating a work ethic.

“It is this kind of approach that has seen the numbers of those registered unemployed for more than a year rise to more than 108,511 from 88,876 while this Government has been in office.

“The new attempt to discredit the most successful programme to assist the unemployed into work is despicable,” Dr Newman said.

ENDS

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