3 February 2000

NGO ATTACKS HOWARD’S CLOSURE OF LOCAL EMPLOYMENT NATIONAL OFFICES

The Howard Government has tried to "hide" the closure of Employment National offices in Fairfield and Cabramatta by linking it with closures in Regional NSW.

The Federal Government is hoping that media and community backlash would be concentrated on closures of Employment National offices in the country NSW so they can sneak through the closure of offices in Fairfield, Cabramatta and Liverpool with minimal fuss.

Generally, this strategy has worked with front page newspaper headlines focussing on the loss of services to regional NSW.

Meanwhile Fairfield’s unemployment rate is double the national average and residents are distraught.

Clr Ngo predicted last month that Employment National offices would soon close in Fairfield and has been an outspoken critic of Christian-based job agencies.

According to Clr Ngo, the community will be the biggest losers.

Multicultural Fairfield has the highest number of migrants and non-Christians in Australia.

"Unemployed residents will be forced to use private job agencies including Christian based institutions, and many have indicated to me they don’t want to seek help from Christian agencies" said Clr Ngo.

Unless they are practising Christians, displaced staff at the Employment National will find it hard to get a job with Christian based employment agencies because these organisations insists on hiring only Christians"

In the rush to privatise, the Howard Government has completely forgotten the real purpose of his Job Network, which is to help the unemployed" Clr Ngo concluded.

ENDS