Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Workplace Relations

Inquiry into issues specific to older workers seeking employment, or establishing a business, following unemployment
Media release, 1 September 1999

Public Hearing in Canberra, September 2

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Workplace Relations continues its inquiry into the problem of mature aged unemployment with a public hearing in Canberra on 2 September 1999 at 9:00am in Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House. The Committee held its first round of public hearings in Sydney on 14-15 July 1999, when evidence was heard from a number of witnesses.

The Chair of the Committee, Dr Brendan Nelson, said: "In this Year of the Older Person, it is timely for the plight of mature aged unemployed people to be examined, especially as evidence is showing us that many are among the 'hidden' unemployed.

"It is quite sobering to hear from some witnesses, age discrimination may be occurring against people in their early forties or even younger.

"The Committee is keen to hear from the Department of Family and Community Affairs about the impact unemployment has on the Australian population. The Committee is also interested to seek advice on possible ways issues specific to mature aged unemployment may be addressed."

The Department of Family and Community Affairs is the first Commonwealth agency to appear before the Committee in this inquiry. Previously the Committee heard from the NSW Government which has funded the Mature Workers Program since 1989. Witnesses have also appeared from a number of support groups such as the Mountains Community Resource Network Inc., JobQuest, Mission Australia and GROW Employment Council. The committee has also heard from several individual unemployed people.

Terms of Reference
The social, economic and industrial issues specific to workers over 45 years of age seeking employment, or establishing a business, following unemployment.

Many of the submissions so far received may be accessed on the internet at www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/eewr/owk/index.htm or copies can be obtained from the secretariat.
Submissions may be sent to:
The Secretary,
House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Workplace Relations
R1, 116, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600.
Submissions e-mailed to eewr.reps@aph.gov.au will also be accepted provided they include a postal address.

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