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Youth | September 14, 2017

Youth unemployment rates up in South West Victoria

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy MP says the latest data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows the number of unemployed youth in South West Victoria has risen by 3.5% over the past twelve months. 

While Daniel Andrews is trying to quote regional Victoria has the second lowest regional unemployment rate in the nation, figures show the number of unemployed youth in South West Victoria has risen from 6.4% in July 2016 to 9.9% in July 2017, an increase of 377 people.

“Labors ongoing failure to invest in our roads, schools and other government projects means there are fewer jobs for youth in the region,” Ms Kealy said.

“Many youth in our part of Victoria have given up looking for work and are leaving the region to seek employment elsewhere.

“The challenge for Victoria is not just about the number of people, but where these people are choosing to live and how state government can regionalise this growth for the benefit of our whole state”, she said.

The Liberal and Nationals new Victorian Population Policy Taskforce is looking closely at these issues and giving locals a say on the best way to balance population growth across Victoria.

“The Liberal and Nationals are committed to balancing population growth across the entire state, unlike the current Labor Government which is totally focused on Melbourne while country Victoria gets left behind”, Ms Kealy said.

“The current city-centric Andrews Government has no policy to manage and grow the population of regional Victoria.

“Country people living in the Lowan electorate are sick of being treated like second-class citizens by Daniel Andrews’ Labor Government”, she said.