By Marina Cameron
The ALP and the Democrats went "belly up" in the Senate last week, according to Greens Senator Bob Brown, allowing the government to pass the amendment to social security legislation needed to implement work for the dole schemes.
Since then, the ALP has gone into damage control mode. In an attempt to obscure its back-down, MP for Canberra Bob McMullan demonstrators at a Transport Workers Union protest in Canberra on June 26: "Our attempt to make it decent was knocked off in the Senate by the Greens, the Democrats and the government so ... we couldn't ensure that the right rates were paid. We couldn't ensure that training was given."
Brown had a different version of events. He told Green Left that the ALP and the Democrats failed to support any amendments to the legislation. The ALP backed down on an amendment opposing the compulsory aspect of the scheme and another calling for a review of the scheme in two years' time.
The Democrats failed to support amendments which were aimed at ensuring that participants received training and skills, and did not displace other workers.
Brown was highly critical of the ALP's weak excuse for supporting the scheme — that it was better to let the government introduce its legislation in full and pay the price at the next election. Brown described as totally unprincipled the use of unemployed young people as fodder in pursuing Labor's narrow electoral interests.
In an attempt to play down the significance of the legislation, McMullan stated, "The potential risk is that it might start to undermine the jobs of people who are already in work, getting paid decent rates of pay. It's something to watch rather than something that at the moment is a threat — I think we've got more immediate challenges on our plate."
Pilot schemes of 10,000 young people aged 18-24 will be up and running by October. The legislation was written in such a way as to leave the option open to expand work for the dole schemes to all unemployed.
Youth groups and community organisations have also responded angrily to the decision. The national secretary of the Young Christian Workers Movement, Anna Cirocco, said, "This government cannot be taken seriously regarding unemployment when, after slashing labour market programs estimated to cost almost $500 million per year over five years, its work for the dole scheme will cost only $15 million per year.
"As an alternative to work for the dole, the government can give unemployed people opportunities to work alongside other paid workers as equals through job creation. Instead of penalising young people, the government needs to create new full-time jobs by employing more people in the public sector, restricting overtime, creating incentives for job-sharing or implementing a comprehensive industry policy."
On June 19, the ACTU also flagged options including schemes in which workers can "purchase" an additional four weeks' annual leave by averaging 48 weeks' pay over a full year; reducing standard working hours and introducing restrictions on overtime; and new leave arrangements such as career breaks.
Resistance national coordinator Sean Healy told Green Left, "The problem with many of these schemes is that they involve less working hours for less pay. This doesn't address the real reason that most people work overtime — they need more money.
"Other workers should not be expected to pay for unemployment. While the government claims to be in favour of job creation, it is cutting tens of thousands of public sector jobs, and any jobs it is 'creating' are low-pay and provide no training."
Healy called for a shorter working week with no loss in pay. "There is plenty of work to be done in social services and environmental protection. And if all overtime in Australia worked today was redistributed, it would create 500,000 jobs. The government needs to be forced to bite the bullet.
"That is what union leaderships and community organisations should be demanding as the only real solution to unemployment."