September 21, 2017
The latest figures from the Bureau of Statistics show that unemployment is still rising in the Wide Bay area – which includes the South Burnett – despite small falls in other parts of the State.
ABS figures for August showed unemployment rose from 8.7 per cent to 9.0 per cent in Wide Bay, but still down slightly from the 10.1 per cent it was at the last election.
Youth unemployment in Wide Bay rose from 23.6 per cent to 25.3 per cent, up from 16.4 per cent in January 2015 when the last State Election was held.
Youth unemployment fell in the Darling Downs/Maranoa (8.1 per cent to 7.7 per cent) but rose in the Sunshine Coast (10.8 to 11.4) and Toowoomba (9.8 to 10.2).
The statewide youth unemployment rate of 13.5 per cent in August was steady from July but 0.6 percentage points lower than at the State Election.
Treasurer Curtis Pitt said 115,400 net new jobs had been created in Queensland since the last election.
“While this is the continuation of an encouraging trend, we know there is much more to do and the government remains committed to creating jobs through our economic plan and the initiatives delivered in three State Budgets,” he said.
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The Federal Government announced on Thursday that a cashless welfare card will be rolled out in parts of the Wide Bay area.
The scheme aims to stop welfare recipients from gambling, buying drugs or alcohol with their Centrelink money.
People aged 35 or under who are receiving unemployment or parenting benefits will have 80 per cent of their payments put on to the debit card.
Only residents of the Federal electorate of Hinkler will be affected by the trial (ie. Bundaberg to Hervey Bay).
