Before we start punishing the unemployed who 'refuse' to work (such as the teenage mums), I was wondering how they would then provide for their children?

Why are the Government looking at punishing just single teenage mums for not working?
I think ALL the unemployed should be either training for new jobs in schools or as apprentices, or working in community projects until they get a 'real' job.
If they are the sort that will never get a proper job, then surely working to improve our local communities is a worthwhile pastime?

The original thrust of this post was that it is all good and well trying to encourage / threaten people back into work, but with the new IR legislation making flexible work difficult and expensive.

The two hours a day helping out after school has effectively been banned, and students, especially teen single mums have no interim between unemployment and full day employment.

Belly,
Just so I understand correctly, you don't think making people make an effort is good ? Putting a limit as to how much a bureaucrat on taxpayers' money can earn is no good ?
You agree with calling people who get two days pay a week as employed ? If that's what Union philosophy is then no wonder we're in this mess.
I have had stuff stolen & despite paying insurance got zilch compensation. Others can be on drugs & drink without a care in the world & they get some of my tax Dollar to sleep all day whilst I go to work ? Why are people unemployed ? Well, there are so many varied reasons that we can't just throw them all in the same basket. We could create employment if we put a stop to the insane earnings of banks & telecommunication companies. Mostly though get some of those $200,000 plus a year Public servants off their safe pedestals & spread the money to employ people. Those who use machinery instead of man power too should pay for not employing people to make insane profits. Get a flat tax system, Non-military National Service, curb Bureaucrat salaries & we'll have a good society.

I need to leave the thread and will, after two posts.
Uninterested in Shadow Ministers direction.
And unable to understand Individuals.
I post out of respect for Suzionline.
I just have to say Suzi,change is not always bad, or wrong.
Welfare is a gift from government/tax payers to under privileged.
I happen to think the word welfare has great merit.
It in my view is not an attempt to hurt or harm but help.
I am reminded Suzi of a family known to me, the whole extensive family excepts welfare, every one of three generations.
Now having children,for them is an enterprise,at 14 years of age.
18 year olds get carer payments for older generations,but live inseperate housing, rarely seeing them.
This is all true.
I am impressed by your defense of fairness, after all such has been my life's work, still is.
But are we assisting theft from those truly in need?
more to come.

Well i've watched this title there for a while and thought the last thing I needed was another bashing from the do-gooders, but here goes.

Making people employable.

You're kidding!

We provide them with schooling. Within that schooling we also provide tutoring for 'special needs students',we provide 'work experience' opportunities, we then provide an array of options 'post grade 10/12', such as tafe or tech colleges, most of which is either 'paid for', 'or subsidised by' the tax payer.

Now, if after all this the students become 'unemployable', well so what!

As I have said before, we are all presented with an equal opportunity to fail.

Perhaps a better angle would be to find a way to stop dead beat patents from having dead beat kids, most of which are either to busy having more kids, or taking drugs etc to even realise that their kids are either at best struggling at school, or at worst, not even attending.

If, after 12 years of schooling, plus endless opportunities to better themselves and, 'full employment, people still don't have the skills to obtain a job, then tough titties.

Most 'long term' unemployed people who can't find work don't just want a job, they want 'the job' and there in lies the problem.

Just remember, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. So get over it!

We must not react to conservative ideas that high wages bring about unemployment.
Not true but never forget it is a wish to have a lower paid lower class by such.
We have, even Abbott will not change it, a form of socialism in place, all welfare is such.
In country's that once had communism and Socialism too some return for help was needed.
We can not forever think to ask for some accountability is wrong.
I think we can employ every one, that a safety net that helps not harms is some thing we should constantly change.
In the family I have highlighted but many more too, young women now mid 20,s 3 or 4 kids can not read.
And do not even understand life away from poverty and sometimes cruelty is possible.
I now leave, no intention to debate lowering living standards of Australians in the name of small business or big.