Unemployed Queenslanders facing toughest Christmas on record
Thousands of Queensland families are facing a bleak Christmas, with the state’s unemployment rate expected to hit a record high.
The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show more than 175, 000 people will be out of work, the highest amount since records began 35 years ago.
Major Neil Dickson from the Salvation Army said the organisation was expecting to help up to 50 thousand Queenslanders in coming weeks.
“The cost of living has increased, so they’re really finding it hard to make ends meet,” he said.
“Things are worse from last year, people are talking about how much tougher it is.”
The state government has come under fire from unions for not doing enough.
Queensland Council of Unions President John Battams says the youth jobless rate has skyrocketed to more than 30 per cent in some parts of the state.
"We now have more 15 to 19 year olds looking for work than any other Australian state,” he said.
"This government is standing by while the economy slumps, jobless rates reach record levels and retail trade flat lines.”
But state Liberal Minister John Paul Lanbroek has blamed the former Labor government for the crisis.
“We’re suffering the pain now because of what Labor left us,” he said.
“We're confident that next year our economies going to be growing strongly.
“We have a plan to improve the situation for young Queenslanders and all those who would like more work into the future,” Mr Langbroek said.
The latest unemployment figures will be released on Thursday.
