Jobs figures queried
MALCOLM Turnbull and Mahaliah Cash are quick to pat themselves on the back for the vast amounts of jobs they have created out of thin air since they have taken over the tiller of government.
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Laudable though the figures they rattle off may appear on the surface, has anyone broken down as to what exactly these jobs entail.
There is, in my opinion, a vast difference between a job and a career, you would not class fruit picking as full-time or even long-term employment, mainly because there is little, if any, prospect for advancement.
Also, by its very nature, the job is seasonal at best, but is also at the mercy of the elements and the market prices, i know because i traveled Australia doing such work.
The government’s fair work website classifies daily and weekly hire persons as full-time employees.
This means they can work up to 38 hours a week, but not every week or day, only when required.
But as with full-time employees they have to be given one hour’s notice before their services are terminated.
Can one truly make plans for a prosperous future with a Damocles sword like that hanging over them.
The world is changing.
As stated by Professor Stephen Hawking, technology is rapidly taking away the need for the manual labour that 20 years ago was causing alarm as how the those same positions would be filled.
With this in mind it behooves us to rethink our attitudes to employment, we cannot keep looking upon the unemployed, or under employed in society as burdens.
We need to redirect our education system to best fit the future needs of society.
Oscar Wilde said: “The rich harp on the value of thrift and the idle grow elegant over the virtue of labour.”
Politicians find easy targets in attacking the unemployed and needy in our society.
But by their own idleness and lack of foresight they are the creators of the class of people they despise.
William McIlwain, Minyip
Regional connectivity
THE federal government has given the go-ahead for the 3.6GHz spectrum auction but it has failed to explain how it will address the concerns of regional-based Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs).
These WISPs are non-NBN wireless broadband providers who are currently transmitting in the 3.6 GHz spectrum.
Some 200,000 regional Australians rely on these innovative regional businesses for work, business and studies yet the WISPs continue to be locked out of discussions with the government.
Labor supports the planned spectrum auction and welcomes moves to clear the way for higher-value 5G services. Labor also believes the very real concerns of the WISPs have not been adequately addressed.
The ACMA proposal for WISPs to move to the 5.6GHz spectrum used by the Bureau of Meteorology is highly problematic.
Squeezing WISPs onto a narrow band of spectrum currently used by BOM for an essential service such as weather radar is not without risks of interference.
It’s time the government got serious and work with WISPs and BOM to find a workable solution to these issues.
Stephen Jones, Shadow Minister for Regional Communications
Supporting fire victims
OUR thoughts are with farmers and communities in Victoria’s south-west who now face the prospect of assessing the damage from the weekend’s bushfires.
All credit must go to our emergency service personnel and community members who worked tirelessly to bring these fires under control. Your efforts ensured no resident was left behind and that there was no loss of life, despite extreme conditions.
The coming months will be incredibly difficult as livestock losses and injuries are assessed and our farmers and communities determine the full impact of loss of livestock, property and farm infrastructure.
With the fire scorching pasture at hundreds of farms across 15,000 hectares, a fodder drive established by the Victorian Farmers Federation will provide much needed supplies and I urge those who can to donate.
Every available support must be extended to our dairy farmers, livestock farmers and community members who face the heartbreaking prospect of rebuilding their lives.
Peter Walsh, leader, The Nationals
Getting active in April
APRIL is almost here and I’d like to take the opportunity to urge people in the Wimmera to get active through the Premier’s Active April challenge.
More than 50 per cent of Victorian adults fail to meet the recommended levels of physical activity, while 80 per cent of children don’t exercise enough.
The Premier’s Active April initiative encourages Victorians to get active. It’s as easy as taking the stairs, walking the kids to school or getting out in the garden.
This year’s campaign is encouraging Victorians of all ages and abilities to register and call on their pets as a fun and easy way to increase levels of physical activity.
A new personalised “My Local” feature on the website will also help people in the Wimmera find local activities, events and offers within the community.
In 2017, 2859 people from the Wimmera participated comprising 866 from Horsham Rural City, 600 from Ararat Rural City, 441 from Yarriambiack Shire, 347 from West Wimmera Shire, 340 from Northern Grampians Shire and 265 from Hindmarsh Shire.
Register via www.activeapril.vic.gov.au.
Jaala Pulford, Member for Western Victoria