MARKUS CALLS FOR FURTHER SUPPORT FOR GREEN CORPS
14-December-2011
Member for Macquarie, Louise Markus MP has called on the Federal Government to continue to fund Green Corps and National Green Jobs Corps programs. The Federal Labor Government has announced it will cease funding the programs from 31 December 2011. Green Corps provides young unemployed people receiving income support payments the opportunity to develop skills and contribute to the community, through participation in an environmental work experience and training program. Government funding was provided from 1 January 2010 and promised to provide 10,000 program places.
“The Green Corps and National Green Jobs Corps programs were established by the Howard Government, while Tony Abbott was responsible for youth programs, to provide much-needed support to job-seekers,” said Mrs Markus.
“These programs provide a hand-up for unemployed young Australians, while at the same time, restoring, conserving and protecting Australia’s natural environment.
“This is just another example of poor decision making by this Labor Government, desperate to claw back funds to cover its reckless spending, economic mismanagement and huge debt and deficit.”
Louise Markus visited a Green Corps program site at Pierce’s Pass in the Blue Mountains this week with Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Environment and Heritage, the Hon Greg Hunt MP to highlight the impact the program was having on participants.
“After speaking with Green Corps program participants in the Blue Mountains, it is clear that this is an extremely valuable and beneficial program.
“Taking into account the current economic climate resulting in recent job losses and an increase to the national unemployment rate, the Federal Government should be supporting programs such as these.
“Instead, the Gillard Government is pulling funding from this program, dis-incentivising job-seekers from developing skills necessary for their future employment and leaving Australia’s natural environment vulnerable with less resources for restoration and preservation.”
Mrs Markus also expressed concern for the impact the funding pull will have on the environment.
“This program is of great benefit to our natural environment and cultural heritage, with increasingly less volunteers willing and able to give their time to the restoration and conservation of our natural landscape,” Mrs Markus said.
“Areas in my electorate, comprising the Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury, encompass bushland, national parks, mountain ranges, rivers and streams.
“Programs like Green Corps are vital to the ongoing conservation of these areas.
“Should the Gillard Government pull funding from this program, other grants and funding need to become more widely available for the preservation of our environment.
“Worse still, it may mean that essential maintenance on fire trails is not carried out, leading to devastating bush fires that NSW and other states have experienced over recent years.
“I will continue to fight for the environmental needs of Macquarie, and in my new role of Coalition NSW Community Environment Ambassador, I will begin the fight for the environmental needs of our great state, to ensure the preservation of our natural environment.”