Do you want lies with that?: Teen who wanted to 'chill at Maccas' rather than work is employed by the fast food giant
The Sydney teen who claimed she would prefer to spend her days “chilling at Maccas” rather than looking for work is actually employed by the fast food chain and was just "acting up".
Amy, 17, and her friend Ashleigh, 21, last week became the new faces of the NEETS generation, young people either not engaged in employment or training, after saying they were unable to hold down a job and would call in sick to work when they were “over it”.
The pair, who live the Sydney suburb of Mr Druitt, said they were not studying or working, and had no intention to do so, and had applied for Centrelink because they would rather take their Holden Barina for a spin in the bush than work.
Amy has since admitted that she lied about her employment status - she in fact works at McDonald's - and said she thought she was "being cool".
"I just went to Centrelink with my mate as she was making an application. I'm going to work tonight even though I feel depressed," she said.
Amy's father, Steven, a Corrective Services worker, said his daughter's story was entirely false.
He told The Daily Telegraph his daughter was just a "silly teenager who was acting up and wanted her five minutes of fame" and that she works in the very McDonald's she claimed to relax at.
The 47-year-old man said his daughter has worked at the store's Penrith franchise for seven months despite her presence at Centrelink last week.
"She made the whole thing up. She’s a good girl and has been depressed recently," he said. "She wasn’t claiming Centrelink. She’s been working at Maccas for seven months and was just there to accompany her friend."
Steven said he would be sending Amy to see a counsellor.
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In the wake of the story Federal Treasurer, Scott Morrison, told 2GB radio host Ray Hadley that he would look at cutting off the teen's benefits.
"Leave it to me, I'll have a chat with Christian," Mr Morrison said, referring to Social Services Minister, Christian Porter.
The story sparked huge debate across the country with a report conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development finding Australia has about 580,000 young people who are NEETS.
Since the 2008 global financial crisis, the number of NEETS has soared by 100,000 and one in eight Australians aged 15-29 are considered to be one.
