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, 27 September 1999

Treasury and Albury-Wodonga ACC

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Workplace Relations will be holding its next public hearing for its inquiry into issues specific to mature aged jobseekers, in Canberra at 9:00am on Thursday 30 September 1999 in Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House.

The Chair of the Committee, Dr Brendan Nelson, said: "The Committee is aware that redundancy programs in public and private sectors have had effects on the economy. Treasury's submission examines the implications of mature aged unemployment on the national economy.

"Many mature aged jobseekers may not have accumulated significant assets to alleviate the financial consequences of unemployment. At a time when they are expecting to enjoy life because their financial obligations - family expenses and mortgage payments - are coming to an end, some unemployed mature aged people find they may not be eligible for unemployment benefits until they use up all their savings and even their superannuation."

Dr Nelson added: "We are also hearing from the Albury-Wodonga Area Consultative Committee which has presented a regional perspective. Amalgamations, takeovers, downsizing and outsourcing have had an effect on regional development. Business investment decisions are made elsewhere-often not taking into account the economic advantages of operating in a regional area.

"The multiplier effects of regional retrenchments have been devastating, resulting in other jobs being affected. This is worse in the small localities which have lost many of their support services so their citizens now need to journey to Albury-Wodonga to see a doctor or to do their banking.

"The Committee aims to identify why some mature age people have difficulties in regaining employment after they lose their jobs and to find practical solutions to meet the needs of this age group."

The Committee has received evidence from a number of witnesses at earlier public hearings in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Perth and Adelaide.

Many of the submissions so far received may be accessed at http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/eewr/OWK/index.htm or copies can be obtained from the secretariat. Public hearing transcripts are also available from this site.

Terms of reference

Inquire into the social, economic and industrial issues specific to workers over 45 years of age seeking employment, or establishing a business, following unemployment.

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