Forcing young Australians to wait even one month for welfare won't help them find work, Labor says.
Instead, it will rob them of the capacity to search for jobs and deny them self respect, opposition families spokeswoman Jenny Macklin told parliament on Monday.
Ms Macklin was speaking about legislation that would make job seekers under the age of 25 wait four weeks before accessing unemployment benefits.
The government originally wanted under-30s to wait six months, but abandoned the measure after pressure from a hostile Senate.
The bill also pushes those aged 22 to 24 years onto the lower Youth Allowance payment, which Labor says will result in payment cuts of at least $48 a week, or almost $2500 a year.
Ms Macklin said Social Services Minister Scott Morrison could not explain how the measures would help young people find a job.
"They will be too busy to work out how they will live, not how they will look for work opportunities," she said.
"As if young Australians attending job interview after job interview, only to be told they're unsuccessful, need the added stigma of being labelled a dole bludger."
However, Labor supported the "sensible" decision of ceasing a $300 annual low-income supplement for certain welfare recipients.
Liberal MPs used debate to promote the government's $330 million youth job program, which includes welfare-to-work measures.
"This government won't abandon young job seekers," Liberal Louise Markus said.
Share
