Protest against budget cuts

By Karen Fry NEWCASTLE — Fifty people protested outside the Department of Training and Education's regional office in Newcastle on October 16. The focus of the action was the Carr government's decision, announced in the October 9 state budget, to axe employment programs. The programs to be axed include the "Get Started" program which provides 15-24 year olds with training and work experience, and "The Workplace" program which works on a one-to-one basis. In addition, the "Mature Workers" program, for people over 40 years old, has been cancelled in many areas. The protest, which involved project officers, participants and supporters of the schemes, was organised by the Hunter Regional Employment Network. Spokesperson Janet Hallinan told the gathering that 100 project officers in the Hunter region alone will now be unemployed. Hallinan pointed out that the programs had been cut despite Labor's pre-election promises to continue support. Despite inadequate funding, the schemes have had a high success rate. Hallinan urged the protesters to publicise the funding cuts to embarrass the government in the lead up to the federal elections. Democratic Socialist candidate for Newcastle, Kamala Emanuel, said: "We need to put pressure on the Carr government to change this decision now. The most effective way to put pressure on the government is by organising more public protests and bringing the effects of the budget cuts to the attention of the wider community." "Large numbers of people have been affected by these funding cuts", she said. "It is therefore quite feasible that larger, louder protests can be organised."