Editorial: Why minister’s ‘dole-bludger-bashing’ was right

He copped flak for telling jobseekers to turn off Netflix, but the Deputy Prime Minister has a point, writes the editor.

The word “bludger” is one of those unique terms that always seems to come up on lists of the best Australian slang.

There are many who rail against its use these days, arguing that it is unfair to portray unemployed people as being too lazy to get off their backsides to find work.

However, it’s hard not to come to the conclusion that at least a proportion of young jobless people are indeed bludgers when a government scheme is offering to pay them handsome bonuses to take up paid positions yet next to no-one applies.

Sadly, it doesn’t really come as that much of a surprise that the Palaszczuk government’s $1.1 million Back to Work Agriculture Incentive Scheme has been an abject flop.

The pilot scheme offered unemployed people up to $1500 to take up seasonal work on Queensland farms.

Ostensibly, the cash was to help cover relocation costs but in reality it was a publicly funded bribe.

Under the guidelines, the cash was supposed to come in tranches to successful applications, with the first $500 paid after completing a fortnight of continuous work and the final $1000 coming after a further six weeks on the job.

The scheme was initially targeted at Wide Bay and the Darling Downs, two of Queensland’s biggest food bowls.

However, it was expanded statewide after a thoroughly underwhelming response and following calls from farmers in other regions who desperately needed workers.

But as The Courier-Mail has revealed today, just 85 people have qualified for the first $500. But not a single one of them has completed the two months of work necessary to get the full $1500.

Deputy Prime Minister and Regional Development Minister Michael McCormack

Certainly, there are currently unique circumstances that contributed towards the failure of this scheme.

Jobseekers are receiving an additional $150 fortnightly coronavirus supplement from the federal government – and that will not be removed until April 1.

Many of Queensland’s recently unemployed would have been forced onto these payments as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and would have expected that their work would return as soon as restrictions were lifted.

And there will be many people whose circumstances would make it impossible for them to take up seasonal work, such as older people and single parents whose children attend school.

Simply being unemployed does not make a person a bludger.

However, among the 7.7 per cent of Queenslanders who are currently jobless there are surely some who could have – and should have – taken up offers of seasonal work on the state’s farms but chose not to simply because it didn’t suit their lifestyle.

Deputy Prime Minister and Regional Development Minister Michael McCormack was lampooned by some recently for suggesting jobless people should get off Netflix and try their hand at fruit picking.

Mr McCormack was accused of “dole-bludger-bashing”, castigated for not recognising that there are more jobseekers than there are jobs, and censured for supporting the removal of the $150 fortnightly coronavirus supplement.

Yet amid all the righteous condemnation, none of his critics could come up with a cogent argument as to why fruit-picking jobs are going begging.

This scenario has certainly demonstrated just how much Queensland’s agriculture sector now relies on international workers.

But just as importantly, it shows some people simply are bludgers who cannot be enticed to do some hard work.

FEARLESS INDIA SHOWED US HOW

Sometimes after a defeat all you can do is shake your head and admit the opposition was just too good.

But Australia’s defeat yesterday to India at the Gabba was more than that.

This Indian team overcame every hurdle placed in its way – a crippling injury toll, losing its superstar captain to attend the birth of his first child, and living for months in a COVID bubble – to chase down a record total on a Gabba pitch that has become a graveyard for visiting teams.

Needing only a draw to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Indians bravely went for the win, stunning an Australian bowling attack described as the world’s best.

There will be recriminations for the Aussies, but for now, let’s celebrate the magnificent Indians – as we do in today’s print edition with a commemorative poster.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details are available here.