Move To Work Bonus Welcomed

The proposed $5000 assistance package announced by the Federal Government to people who live in areas of high unemployment to encourage them to move to areas of low unemployment is to be applauded according to the Shadow Treasurer.

"The Howard Government has proven itself to be responsive and aware of the labour differential in this country,” Shadow Treasurer Terry Mills said today.

"The careful management of the national budget by the Government in Canberra has seen Labor's $96 billion debt erased. Further careful management has also seen repeated surpluses that have meant that the Federal Government can now take innovative steps to support the bullish parts of the Australian labour marketplace.

"We will be the winners in the Territory because this incentive will be a package that will generate even more wealth in the Territory.

"The Treasurer needs to applaud this loudly and he needs to be certain that the Territory is ready to receive the workers that we so badly need. Once again the Territory is the beneficiary of Liberal Party Policy and as much as Treasurer Stirling might not like it, the fact is that the Territory's doing well because the country is doing well.

"I hope that we see many people travelling here to take up work in the primary and secondary sectors. Construction is certainly starved for staff and the cattle industry will also be looking.

"I call upon the Territory Branch of the ALP to applaud this decision and more importantly take advantage of the offer so that we can get the professions, such as the struggling nursing profession also boosted.

"Once people see how great the Territory is, many of them will stay and make this their home.”

2006-08-30