Wage subsidies are supporting businesses to give vital work opportunities to Australians facing disadvantage. The best form of welfare is a job. The Government is committed to getting as many Australians into work as possible by creating more and better jobs. Every Australian deserves a job to support themselves and their families.

This Coalition Government has created record jobs growth, with more than 1,100 jobs being created every day and more than 900,000 created since the Coalition came to government. Most new jobs are full-time and female workforce participation is at an all-time high.

The number of jobs in Australia has increased for the 16^th straight month in January, the longest consecutive run of jobs growth ever. The Wage Subsidy Program offers subsidies of up to $10,000 to employers who hire and retain eligible people in ongoing positions. Wage subsidies are available for positions taken by parents, mature-age workers, youth, long-term unemployed and indigenous Australians who are registered with an employment services provider.

This targeted incentive is available for any Australian business. The Coalition is proud of its record in helping 100,000 disadvantaged unemployed people into jobs and encourages more businesses to take this opportunity. Visit www.jobs.gov.au/wage-subsidies.

The Coalition Government is working to prevent youth homelessness by linking at-risk Australians with essential services. Funding has been announced of up to $117 million over five years to 102 Reconnect services.

Reconnect is a youth homelessness prevention program, which provides at-risk youth, and their families, with counselling, mediation and practical support to find accommodation. Reconnect services helped more than 6,000 young people and their families in 2016-2017.

The Coalition Government will also provide an additional $375 million to frontline homelessness services over the three years from July 1. The final two years of funding will be tied to providers achieving measurable improvements in prevention and early intervention services. Visit www.dss.gov.au.

Australian consumers will see improved phone and internet services at affordable prices following reforms to telecommunications. Carrier powers and immunities are designed to strike the right balance between the community’s need to access reliable, affordable telecommunications services while ensuring that property owners, local governments and communities have a say in the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure that affects them.

Industry analysis has estimated that reforms to carrier powers and immunities will deliver economic and productivity benefits to consumers worth tens of millions of dollars per year, as well as providing regulatory cost savings for industry and consumers.

Powers and immunities regulations allow telcos to install and maintain network infrastructure, such as pillars and antennas, quickly and cost-effectively. These arrangements ensure telcos can upgrade mobile coverage and install fast broadband services without the delays imposed by protracted development approvals processes.

The Government began consultation on 24 proposed reforms in June 2017. After giving consideration to the views of property owners, councils and other parties, the Government will immediately proceed with ten reforms while conducting further consultation on 11 others. Visit www.communications.gov.au/have-your-say/consultation-possible-amendments-telecommunications-carrier-powers-and-immunities.