Summer of Steve: No ‘Real Jobs’
Monday 19th Mar 2001 Dr Muriel Newman Media Release -- Social Welfare
Employment Minister Steve Maharey has yet again attempted to spin success out of abject failure, ACT Social Welfare
Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman said today.
“In answer to parliamentary questions released to me today, it is clear that Maharey’s claim of getting students ‘real
jobs’ over summer has been proved a joke,” Dr Newman said.
“His statistics simply do not stand up to basic scrutiny.
“Maharey gloated that he had personally achieved 28,657 summer placements for students but he conveniently glossed over
the fact that nearly 17,000 student jobs – around 60% of the total – lasted no more than a week.
“He also neglected to mention that three out of ten summer placements were for less than a day!
“In fact, it was also uncovered today that more students relied on the Emergency Student Benefit last summer than over
the previous two years.
“No repackaging or professional spin can hide those results. I suggest to Mr Maharey that he place more emphasis on
admitting to students the real story, rather than in trying to perpetuate the myths of his spin doctors”, Dr Newman
said.
ENDS