Prime Minister Julia Gillard has provided more proof that she is just like Kevin Rudd – all talk and no action.
Media Release
Gillard Stops After School Work
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has provided more proof that she is just like Kevin Rudd – all talk and no action.
When six Victorian teenagers lost their work after school in February this year due to changes made by the Rudd/Gillard Government, Ms Gillard said she would act to fix the problem.
Through a spokesperson on Feb 8, she said that “attempts were being made to come to an arrangement that suited both the employer and the teenagers”.
Yet no attempt has been made by Ms Gillard to fix the problem. In fact, when the students took their case to Fair Work Australia, Ms Gillard remained silent as Union funded barristers sought to intimidate the students.
Julia Gillard created Fair Work Australia. Its decision on Friday rejecting an application to vary the minimum hours for students sends completely the wrong message to young Australians.
The case was brought following media attention over the plight of Victorian teenagers Matthew Spencer and Leticia Harrison who lost their jobs at a Terang hardware store after Labor changed the minimum hours they could work from two hours to three.
Leticia Harrison said after the decision on Friday, “I can’t really get my head around the fact they won’t let us work”.
Matthew Harrison asked “What message does it send to other kids?”
In handing down the decision, Fair Work Australia acknowledged that Julia Gillard’s new laws are having a detrimental impact on country students:
“The impact on individuals in that situation is significant and has an impact on employment opportunities for youth in regional areas in particular.” Vice President Watson
Yet Fair Work Australia, encouraged by Julia Gillard’s silence, decided to do nothing.
Julia Gillard needs to honour her word and find an arrangement that suits both employer and employee so country students can work after school again.
Matthew Spencer and Leticia Harrison collected over 1600 signatures on a petition and presented it to Ms Gillard asking for their right to work back.
Yet Julia Gillard did nothing. She has betrayed them and for this she should stand condemned.
ENDS
Contact Dan Tehan: 0400 376 635
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