BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders

Ms SYLVIA HALE [11.39 a.m.]: I move:

That standing and sessional orders be suspended to allow a motion to be moved forthwith that Private Members' Business item No. 103 outside the Order of Precedence, relating to funding of skilled migrant and mature workers programs, be called on forthwith.

This matter is urgent because the mini-budget axed funding for the Skilled Migrant Placement Program and the Mature Workers Program. These are both highly effective programs and their de-funding makes no sense. The decision will result in the direct loss of hundreds of jobs and essential services to some of the most valuable members of our work force. This motion is urgent because funding for these two programs will run out tomorrow, 30 June. The matter is urgent because more than 100 employees of mature workers projects will lose their jobs; indeed, some have already gone. The motion is urgent because the Federal Government will not pick up the pieces once these programs are lost.

The Treasurer knows full well that the Federal Government did not provide meaningful extra assistance to unemployed mature workers or to Mature Workers Program projects in the May Federal budget. Nothing was offered to skilled migrants in the Federal budget. The motion is urgent because the three-month extension of funds to the Mature Workers Program to help with the winding up of operations came from funds that the Department of Education and Training had not spent. It is notable that, despite crying poor for the past 12 months, the New South Wales Government could find, and had budgeted for, an extra $400 million from consolidated revenue to meet teachers' wage increases but it cannot find $5.5 million to continue these two highly successful programs.

This matter is urgent because both Victoria and South Australia have recently announced new strategies to attract and accredit skilled migrants as significant contributors to the economies and communities of those States. New South Wales attracts 40 per cent of migrants and the Government should assist skilled migrants to have their qualifications recognised so that they can become active members of the State's work force. The matter is urgent because when the Government looks to Mature Workers Program projects to assist mature aged workers deal with retrenchment following closure of a significant business, the appropriate infrastructure will not be available.

Finally, the matter is urgent because workers in these two programs have made the journey here today to witness this debate, many of whom will lose their jobs at the end of this week. I thank Michael Whitehead from the Christian Community Aid Association, Sue Drake Brockman from the Ryde Mature Workers Program and Paul Hurst from the Maroubra Workventures Skilled Migrant Program for coming here today. I acknowledge the valuable work they have done to help mature workers and skilled migrants back into the work force. My only regret is that the Government will no longer fund their activities.

The Hon. CATHERINE CUSACK [11.42 a.m.]: The Opposition supports this urgency motion because tomorrow the programs are to be obliterated and funding for the Skilled Migrant Placement Program will expire. That is why the matter must be debated today.

Question—That the motion be agreed to—put.

The House divided.

Ayes, 20

Mr Breen Dr Chesterfield-Evans Mr Clarke Mr Cohen Ms Cusack Mrs Forsythe Miss Gardiner

Mr Gay Ms Hale Mr Lynn Reverend Dr Moyes Reverend Nile Mr Oldfield Ms Parker

Mrs Pavey Mr Pearce Ms Rhiannon Dr Wong Tellers, Mr Colless Mr Harwin

Noes, 16

Ms Burnswoods Mr Catanzariti Mr Della Bosca Mr Egan Ms Fazio Ms Griffin

Mr Kelly Mr Macdonald Mr Obeid Ms Robertson Mr Roozendaal Ms Tebbutt

Mr Tingle Mr Tsang Tellers, Mr Primrose Mr West


Pairs

Mr Gallacher	Mr Costa
Mr Ryan	Mr Hatzistergos

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Motion agreed to.


Motion by Ms Sylvia Hale agreed to:

That Private Members' Business item No. 103 outside the Order of Precedence be called on forthwith.