Judith Collins MP
National Party Welfare Spokeswoman

8 November 2007

Labour abandons goal for unemployed teens

In true Labour fashion, the Government has sneakily abandoned its goal of having all 15 to 19-year-olds in education, training, work, or other options by 2007, says National’s Welfare spokeswoman, Judith Collins.

“That was Labour’s stated goal in 2002 but when you look at the Ministry of Social Development’s 2006/07 annual report, the ‘by 2007’ goal has mysteriously disappeared off the radar.

“And that’s despite Labour announcing it as a primary target in this area in 2002, and allocating $57 million to it in Budget 2004.”

Ms Collins says that according to Household Labour Force Survey data there are around 23,000 unemployed 15 to 19-year-olds which is unchanged from 2002.

“Despite the millions of dollars and countless schemes Labour has dreamt up to address this problem, it has completely failed to deal with teenage unemployment.

“Instead of fronting up, Labour has set a new, indeterminate, goal and has its fingers crossed hoping no one will notice.

“Unfortunately, this is vintage Labour, and its sleight of hand has been laid bare for all to see.

“It’s yet another case of Labour squandering millions of taxpayer dollars with no accountability to speak of.”

Ends

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