Queensland Youth Week : Andrew Powell

This week is Queensland Youth Week – an annual celebration and time to reflect on the contributions that Queensland’s youth make to our communities every day.

 Across the state there will be hundreds of events during the week for Queensland’s youth, and I encourage everyone to get out and engage with Queensland Youth Week events.

 However, this week is also a time to reflect on what more can be done to help Queensland’s youth – particularly those looking for jobs as youth unemployment sits on double digits.

 In fact, for the youth of Queensland, unemployment sits unacceptably high at 12.5%. It’s even worse for young jobseekers living in the Sunshine Coast (15.1%) and Moreton Bay (16.9% in Moreton Bay North and 12.3% in Moreton Bay South).

 Being able to find a job is vital for Queensland’s youth to be truly empowered to live an independent life and give back even more to their communities.

 Unfortunately, many Queensland youths are unable to find a job as Queensland continues to have one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation.

 This week I urge the Palaszczuk Labor Government to not only celebrate our youth, but also take real action to support them.

Andrew Powell MP
Member for Glass House