Interview - Bumma Bippera Media - Cairns Jobs Fair

E&OE 

SUBJECT/S: Cairns Jobs Fair

TREVOR TIM:
Good morning. Hi, how are you?

LUKE HOWARTH:
Yeah, look, I’m Luke Howarth to talk about the jobs fair [Laughs].

TREVOR TIM:
Okay, I got wires crossed here my friend, so my apologies. Luke Howarth, the Minister for Youth, you are. And we’re talking Cairns Jobs Fair. 

LUKE HOWARTH:
We are, sir. Yeah, I’m Luke Howarth, Assistant Minister for Youth and Employment Services, and I’m talking about the Cairns Jobs Fair that’s on tomorrow at the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal down at [indistinct]… 

TREVOR TIM:
[Talks over] That’s happening tomorrow, yes. I got you now – wires crossed, but I do have you, so thank you very much, Luke. So tell us about the Cairns Job Fair there, please.

LUKE HOWARTH:
Yeah, look, it’s a great opportunity for anyone in Cairns looking to get back into the workforce, or work part-time if they’re retired, want to do a couple of days a week, or they might be parents, they’ve got young children at school, or want to get back into work. There will be over 650 jobs on offer tomorrow at the jobs fair, all in the one place, all at the one venue at that Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal.

TREVOR TIM:
[Talks over] Under one roof, my friend. 

LUKE HOWARTH:   
All there.

TREVOR TIM:
Fantastic.

LUKE HOWARTH:
Yeah. It’ll be a real opportunity…

TREVOR TIM:
[Talks over] Luke, when we look at this situation we’re living in at the moment, living with COVID-19, and talking about a majority of Australians are getting vaccinated, and the ones who are not- I mean, people have moved on from jobs because of the fact that companies, organisations, private companies are saying that staff have to be vaccinated as such. So it would’ve shot through regarding- it would’ve lift the unemployment rate to a higher numbers [sic], yes?
 
LUKE HOWARTH:
Well, for sure. And you know, look, the Federal Government outside of aged care really hasn’t brought in mandatory vaccination. Obviously, the Queensland Government has on a whole lot of sectors, and some private companies are making that a requirement to work.

TREVOR TIM:
[Talks over] Decision. Yes.

LUKE HOWARTH:
Look, I personally don’t support mandatory vaccination. Whilst we encourage people to be vaccinated, we- it’s people’s body and it’s their choice. And so with 95 per cent of the Australian population now vaccinated, a lot of those mandates should drop, and we should just get on with it.

TREVOR TIM:
Sure.

LUKE HOWARTH:
That’s the reality. There’s 650 jobs on offer, and people want to get into work.

TREVOR TIM:
Yes.

LUKE HOWARTH:
And on behalf of the Australian Government, we’re putting on this jobs fair tomorrow to help people find that work, because in every sector, work is needed. Now there are jobs there that don’t require vaccination, but others do. So I do hear you, bud. And we would encourage people to get vaccinated. There are different vaccines out there now, including Novavax. It’s the protein-based one. But talk to your GP. But yes, we want to help people into work. But the point that I make, with unemployment rates so low at the moment, and youth unemployment also falling, if people haven’t worked for a few years, now is the perfect opportunity for them to get into work, because employers are desperate for staff. They want staff. And it’s an opportunity to change your life. You might be even on a disability pension and you’re able to work one or two days a week on the phone. You know, take that opportunity now and there’ll be so much on offer at the Australian Government Jobs Fair tomorrow.

TREVOR TIM:
Okay. And the Cairns Jobs Fair, where is that happening? And what times, please?

LUKE HOWARTH:
Yeah, it’s happening from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm at the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal, on Wharf Street in Cairns.

TREVOR TIM:
Yes,

LUKE HOWARTH:
The Federal Member there, Warren Entsch for Leichardt, he’ll be there opening the jobs fair. I was due to come out, but I’m down in Brisbane, Moreton Bay, and we’ve been affected by floods down here yesterday, so everything’s underwater [indistinct]…

TREVOR TIM:
[Talks over] Exactly. You’ve been sitting in a dinghy, having a yarn with me, aren’t you? Pardon the pun. 

LUKE HOWARTH:
You wouldn’t believe it, I’m at a restaurant here, and it was a metre underwater yesterday between Moreton Bay and Redcliffe. 

TREVOR TIM:
[Talks over] Whoa, there you go.

LUKE HOWARTH:
…so it’s pretty bad. But Warren Entsch will be there, and staff from the Australian Government of the Department of Education, Skills, and Employment. 

TREVOR TIM:
Lovely. Good. 

LUKE HOWARTH:
I would encourage people to turn up. There will be a lot of help there on the day. You’ll hear directly from employers about what they look for when hiring. Of course we’ll have the tourism sector, we’ll have aged care, disability care, there’s so many jobs on offer in the one place at the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal tomorrow. So turn up, we’d love to see you.

TREVOR TIM:
Beautiful. Thank you very much, Luke, all the best to you. Look, stay safe and we’ll yarn soon, my friend.

LUKE HOWARTH:
Thank you. Anytime. Thank you, sir.

TREVOR TIM:
Thank you, bye bye. A deadly yarn there. Luke Howarth, his name is. He's Minister for Youth and we're talking about the Cairns Job Fair happening here in Cairns, of course. First of March, happening tomorrow. And that's all at the Cruise Liner Terminal, from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm. So do check it out. And for you mob who aren't vaccinated, get on down there, have a yarn to the mob there, talk about employment. That's what it's all about.