FED: Govt must release IR modelling following jobs data: Keenan

AAP General News (Australia)
02-12-2009
FED: Govt must release IR modelling following jobs data: Keenan

CANBERRA, Feb 12 AAP - The opposition has again demanded the federal government release
modelling showing how its new industrial relations laws will affect jobs.

The call comes as the jobless rate rose to its highest level in two years, according
to the latest official labour force data.

With unemployment sharply on the rise, Australians have a right to know what Labor's
new workplace laws will do to jobs, opposition workplace relations spokesman Michael Keenan
said.

"It is now critical for the government to release its jobs modelling for the Fair Work
bill, so we can see how many new jobs are going to be created under the new workplace
laws," Mr Keenan said in a statement.

"Economic modelling has been done for the two cash splashes and the emissions trading scheme.

"Yet the most important modelling which we need to see is for the Fair Work bill."

A slim rise in January in the total number of people employed failed to stop the jobless
rate jumping to 4.8 per cent, its highest level since June 2006, official data released
on Thursday showed.

Total employment rose by a seasonally-adjusted 1,200 in January.

AAP jcd/kms/goc/

KEYWORD: JOBS KEENAN

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