Labor blames Queensland for doing what it had to do - The Australian (blog)

BY what stretch of the imagination could Julia Gillard blame Queensland for the mounting jobless rate in this country ("Jobless rise tests Labor's strategy?", 18/1)?

Any sane thinking business person in Queensland knows that Campbell Newman's public-sector job cuts are in reply to the growing debt crisis he faced from the previous state Labor government. Job cuts were a necessary evil to get debt under control and get our AAA credit rating back on track. And business is no exception. Under any Labor administration in this country, business confidence has always been a problem and continues to be so.

I'm sorry, Prime Minister, it's your government and its wasteful policies that have caused businesses to shut their doors and lay off staff.

Rick Highman, Toowoomba, Qld

JOE Hockey conveniently omits the fact that Queenland, Victoria and NSW Liberal state governments have thrown thousands of people out of work. But the Labor government is blamed for an increase in unemployment. Really?

Margaret Ludowyk, Brunswick, Vic

CLASSIC diversionary tactic 101: never mind what I am doing, look at him and see the state he is in. And so says Julia Gillard when asked about rising unemployment levels.

I guess she really means to say we are going broke more slowly.

Mike Yalden, Kiama, NSW

THE report on rising jobless rate led me to an explanation I have been seeking for decades. Why do we have three-year parliamentary terms? In the first year in office, the new government explains why many promises made during the election campaign cannot be carried out fully or partially. In the second year in office, the governing party tries to sort out its internal power problems. Often, so does the opposition party. The third year in office, the election year, is meant for everybody to set themselves in a winnable position with new promises. Thus, in the year following the election year, we are back to square one.

Spyros G. Marinos, Bicheno, Tas

WHY would the rise of unemployment, especially among women, come as a surprise to anyone?

Since this union-controlled government introduced the Fair Work Act, anybody contemplating employing people would have their sanity questioned.

Penalty rates that force retail and hospitality businesses to close weekends; the reversal of the onus of proof to make employers responsible for any slight mishap in the workplace; onerous unfair dismissal laws and the lack of confidence engendered by the most incompetent government in our history will guarantee a continuing rise in unemployment.

Peter Jacobsen, Kangaroo Point, Qld

THE official unemployment rate has risen to 5.4 per cent. The Bureau of Statistics figures for 2009 reveal 13.5 per cent of the workforce is under-utilised (wanting more work or unemployed), and not much seems to have changed. Add in the large numbers moving from the dole to disability pension, and the increased school leaving age, and the real rate may be closer to 15 per cent.

John Shailer, East Lindfield, NSW

JULIA Gillard continues to blame Liberal state governments for rising levels in unemployment. What she likes to forget is that two of the three states with the highest levels of unemployment -- Tasmania and South Australia -- have Labor governments.

But the real kicker is that Labor promised to create half a million new jobs and now that the promise won't be met, everyone else is to blame. If you can make the promise, you need to take the responsibility.

Sussan Ley, Acting opposition spokeswoman for employment and workplace relations, Canberra