Fed: Job figures testament to govt policies Howard

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2000
Fed: Job figures testament to govt policies Howard

MELBOURNE, Aug 10 AAP - Latest job figures showing unemployment at its lowest for a
decade testified to the government's economic management, Prime Minister John Howard said
today.

Mr Howard described as terrific news the creation of 75,000 new jobs in a month and
a jobless rate of 6.3 per cent in July.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showed the unemployment rate was at its
lowest since April 1990 and on the verge of beating the 20-year low of 5.9 per cent.

"We have now created 809,000 new jobs since coming to office," Mr Howard told reporters
in Melbourne.

"It's an astonishingly good figure, 75,000 new jobs ... with all the inevitable cautions
about one-month figures, the news is undeniably good."

Mr Howard said his government's policies had driven down unemployment and would continue
to do so.

"We could drive unemployment down further if the Senate would allow us to further free
Australia's industrial relations system," he said.

"If we could have more flexibility for small business ... you would have an even lower
unemployment rate in this country."

The figures also reflected strong growth around the country and were not just "Olympics-driven"

in Sydney, he said.

"Everybody should feel very pleased that we have got 809,000 more Australians in work
in the last four and a half years," Mr Howard said.

"This is terrifically good news - it's good for families.

"It's what economic management is all about - getting more Australians into work and
making Australians feel more optimistic about their job prospects."

AAP jd/er/it/bwl

KEYWORD: JOBS HOWARD LEAD

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