Mr HARTSUYKER (Cowper—Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister) (15:27): I welcome the opportunity to speak on what is a very important matter of public importance—very important indeed. The issue of youth unemployment is an endemic problem that this government is absolutely committed to addressing. The PaTH program, I believe, is a revolutionary program that is addressing the root causes of youth unemployment. When I used to get around to businesses and talk to employers, they would say to me that young people are presenting at the gates of their businesses without the necessary skills to hold down a job—skills that those of us who have been fortunate enough to have a job for many years take for granted, such as how to behave in the workplace, turning up on time and how you dress for work. Ms Collins: Why not give them skills and a job? Mr HARTSUYKER: I know the member for Franklin is not serious about unemployment. She is not serious about addressing the problem; she can only squawk and whinge and moan. The PaTH program addresses the key factors that are creating the challenges and keeping young people out of the workforce—those basic skills. Under the PaTH program, young people will have intensive training in what employers are expecting, like knowing to turn up on time, knowing how to dress in the workplace and knowing how to get on with your workmates—those very basic issues and very basic skills that are keeping them out of the workplace. Opposition members interjecting— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Lindsay and the member for Lyons are out of their places. One more peep and they will be evicted. Mr HARTSUYKER: This is an important issue, and it is too important for catcalling from those members opposite—too important for that. The issue of internships is really important because so many young people are lacking the self-confidence to go out and get a job. They are lacking the self-confidence to go into the workforce. Here you are dancing to the tune of your union masters— Ms Collins: Why not pay them a proper wage? Mr HARTSUYKER: I am coming to that. If you would be quiet for two minutes you might learn something, member for Franklin. Why we have an internship program is that it offers young people the opportunity to get into the workforce while still retaining a strong link with the social security system so that they can remain on benefits and, at the same time, get work experience and earn additional income to compensate them for the effort that they are putting in, the effort that they are making in investing in their own future. Many young people are scared about the prospect of going into the workplace. The internship program keeps that link with the social security system, helping to increase their confidence. The system also provides an incentive for employers to take on a young person. Many employers have had unhappy experiences taking on young people in their businesses, but the internship program allows them the opportunity to put on a young person for four to 12 weeks and see how they go, to offer them the opportunity to learn some new skills, to allow that employer to see how that young person is performing on the job and to see how that young person can contribute to their business. The next concern that is often put forward by employers is the issue of the high cost of putting on a young person when they are not productive. Under the PaTH program there are wage subsidies of up to $10,000 to overcome those costs when a young person comes into a business and is not as productive as they might be after having a long period of experience in that job. The PaTH program is multifaceted. Firstly, it addresses the issue of employability skills, which are keeping so many young people out of the workforce. Secondly, it addresses the issue of offering an internship, which allows them to make a move into work but still retain that link with the welfare system, boosting their confidence and giving an employer the confidence to take on a young person. Thirdly, it addresses the issue of wage subsidies, which could make a difference between a young person getting a job and not getting a job. It is a great program. It is a massive commitment by this government in the employment of young people. It is offering around 120,000 places— Mr Husic interjecting— Mr HARTSUYKER: What is so upsetting about offering 120,000 young people an opportunity, member for Chifley? What are you so scared of? Are you scared that your union donors are going to get all upset, that they will be pulling the strings and there you will be, dancing to their tune, as you always are? We know you are dancing to the tune of your union mates. What do they say at the CFMEU you need to do? Their wish is your command—isn't it, member for Chifley? Ms Husar: Do you know why unions are there? You're an idiot! The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Lindsay will withdraw that comment. Ms Husar: I withdraw. Mr HARTSUYKER: This PaTH program shows our commitment to young people—$750 million says that we are serious about addressing the issue of youth unemployment. We are serious about addressing that issue. We are serious about addressing the barriers that you could not care less about. You are too busy taking your instructions from your union mates to look at what works, to look at what employers are saying, to look at what people in the industry who need to get people into work are saying— Ms Collins: Worse under you. Worse under you. Mr HARTSUYKER: You will have your chance in a minute, member for Franklin, I am sure. You are not interested in what— Mr Husic interjecting— Mr HARTSUYKER: Youth Connections was a failure. I heard the member for Chifley extolling the virtues of Youth Connections. It was an unmitigated failure. The very subject of this MPI shows that they do not understand how jobs are created in this economy because it is not government that creates jobs, it is the private sector that creates jobs. That is why we on this side of the House are getting the budget back in the black—despite members opposing us at every turn in our efforts to get the budget back in the black. That is why we are investing $50 billion in infrastructure, creating thousands of jobs in the construction phase and creating thousands more as a result of the efficiencies— Ms Collins: He's misleading the House. The SPEAKER: The member for Franklin might want to restrain her comments. It has been constant for seven minutes. Mr HARTSUYKER: and many of those jobs, potentially, are going to young people. That is why we are reducing red tape—to free up businesses to do what they do best, to get on and deliver services to their customers and, in doing so, employ more young Australians. That is why we are entering into a free trade agreement—to provide export opportunities to create more jobs. We are absolutely committed to the free trade agreement, and that is why we are cracking down on the lawlessness in the building industry. Why should our construction costs be 30 per cent higher than they need to be? It is because the members opposite have their strings tugged by the good old members of the CFMEU and all their other union backers. We are serious about ensuring that we have an efficient, effective construction sector that can offer more apprenticeships, that can offer more traineeships and that can offer more opportunities for young people. Those opposite are about marching to the tune of their union mates. This government, since we have been elected, has created some 467,000 jobs and at a rate faster than those on the other side of the House when they were last in government. But youth unemployment is a vitally important issue that we are absolutely addressing, and the PaTH program is a unique program showing the quantum of this government's commitment—$750 million—showing the expansiveness of this program—some 120,000 participants. This can make a real difference to the level of youth unemployment in this country by giving young people the skills that will make them employable, by taking away the risk to employers, by allowing them to put on a young person through an internship system, by providing financial support to employers to participate, helping offset the cost of the supervision that a young person will need when they are first in the workplace and that all-important wage subsidy to bridge the productivity gap when the young person goes into the workforce. It is an excellent program. But what do we hear from the members opposite? Negative carping and just being the mouthpiece for their union mates, rather than coming on board. I think this program is a game changer. I think this is going to mean many more young people in work, many more young people moving on to bigger and better things in their career. What we want to see is young people getting that first step into the labour market. We want to see them have the opportunity to get that very first job and keep that job, so that they can enjoy the benefits that work can bring. It is not just about the money. It is about the self-esteem that comes from having a job. It is not just about the money. It is about being able to hold your head up high and say: 'I have a job. I am contributing to the economy. I can make my own financial decisions. I need not be dependent on the welfare system.' The welfare system should be a safety net not a destination for our young people. We are absolutely committed to addressing the issue of youth unemployment, and the PaTH program is a very dynamic and very effective program that is going to assist a lot of young people.