MEDIA RELEASE BY HON. LES IIOHNSON,  M.II.R. FOR IIUGIIE.S,  OPPOSITION WHIP

phone: 521-6262_____________  fjf 11 __________ JANUARY 24, 1979

UNEMPLOYMENT:

Mr. Johnson,  M.H.R. for Hughes,  welcomed the Government's

recognition that unemployment is causing havoc particularly

to young people.

Figures released by the Caringbah C.E.S. clearly indicate

that employment opportunities for young people have deteriorated

in the last month.

Mr. Johnson said that one measure taken by the Government

yesterday,  the seven week training program for unemployed

youth in the Public Service,  was formulated to perpetuate the

myth that the individual is to blame for being unemployed.

"The unemployment and job vacancy figures show that young

people have more chance to have a win/the Opera House Lottery

a further

than to get job"

Mr. Johnson said that the proposed intake of7230 apprentices

into the Public Service was welcomed.

"For over two years I have been making requests of the Fraser

Government to increase its apprentice intake in the public

service" 1

Mr. Johnson said that after 1975 not one apprentice had been

taken on at the Lucas Heights Atomic Research Establishment

and only 43 apprenticeships began with with Australia Post,

one of Australia's largest employers.

"The private sector has not taken on apprentices not withstanding

the patchwork support schemes which the Government has been

handing out"

Mr. Johnson said that after three years in Office it is clear

that the Fraser Government has been given more than a fair

chance to fulfil its pre-election promises to bring down unemployment.

"Needless to say the Government has not come to grips with the

2 .*

real crisis of unemployment in Australia"

Mr. Johnson said that the real problems relate to the advances

in technology and the- integration of the Australian economy into

the world economy promoted by transnational corporations.

These large Companies do not owe any allegiances to any one

nation or to its work-force and since the early 1970's have

sought to exploit the cheaper unorganised work-force in our

region to boost company profits.

"Instead of ensuring that technological advances are used to

reduce working hours at no loss of pay for all Australians,

the Fraser Government is permitting these advances to be

used by the private and public sectors to reduce the number

of workers"

Mr. Johnson also criticised the overseas borrowing and foreign  ,  been

take-over policies of the Fraser Government which have' in three

years tailored to suit the needs of foreign companies rather than

protect Australian equity.

"Unemployment under the Fraser Administration is not likely to fall

and the new measures outlined by the Minister for Employment are

nothing more than welcomed relief measures"

