Work-for-dole scheme gets makeover

By CHRIS DANIELS and EUGENE BINGHAM

Dollops of money for regional initiatives and a rejigged work-for-the-dole scheme emerged yesterday as the main planks in the Government's employment drive.

Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton trumpeted his economic development package as the cure for job ills, setting aside $219.4 million for industry and regional development over the next three years.

His package was backed by a clutch of job schemes, including a freshened-up version of the previous Government's controversial work-for-the-dole scheme.

Social Services and Employment Minister Steve Maharey said the Community Work scheme would become the Activity in the Community programme.

The scheme would no longer be compulsory for some people, such as the disabled, though it would still require the unemployed to take jobs in the community.

Mr Maharey said it would be "more refocused and better tailored" but the Opposition decried it as nothing more than Community Work with a paint job.

Other Budget job initiatives included modern apprenticeships and a job creation scheme in the arts sector.

Mr Anderton's plans for the regions, meanwhile, came with promises of more details in the coming months.

His initial ideas include a regional development programme offering grants of up to $2 million for community groups with ideas they can show will create local jobs.

News of the fund caused ears to prick up in the Far North. Chris Mathews, chairman of the Far North Development Trust, said millions of dollars was locked up in charitable trusts across the regions.

Government funding could be used to set up proper structures to put the local money to good use.

An Internet "portal" to the Far North was one project that could help all the businesses attract business and money.

Budget 2000 feature

Minister's budget statement

Budget speech