TOO MANY LOAFERS
Baker says jobless prefer dole to work
THOUSANDS of people are unemployed in Townsville but one local businessman says some would rather be on the dole than work.
Frank Aspland, from Bakery on Primrose in Belgian Gardens, has offered 10 apprenticeships in a year.
“I can’t get people to do the work. They’d rather go back on the dole,” he said.
I CAN’T GET PEOPLE TO DO THE WORK. THEY’D RATHER GO BACK ON THE DOLE FRANK ASPLAND, FROM BAKERY ON PRIMROSE
THOUSANDS of people are unemployed in Townsville but one local businessman says some would rather be on the dole than work.
Baker Frank Aspland, from Bakery on Primrose in Belgian Gardens, said he was at his wits’ end after being unable to find staff.
He has offered 10 appren- ticeships in the past 12 months but has been turned down each time.
“I can’t get people to do the work. They’d rather go back on the dole,” he said.
“With this much unemployment, how come I can’t find workers?”
Mr Aspland spoke out after the Bulletin yesterday highlighted the plight of jobseekers in Townsville and their frustration at being unable to find work.
One single mother had not found work after apply- ing for more than 800 positions. More than one in every 10 people in the Townsville region are unemployed.
But Mr Aspland, owner of Bakery on Primrose, is now so disillusioned about jobseekers that he is not hiring.
“The point is for people to turn their back on an appren- ticeship in this employment situation is totally and utterly ludicrous,” he said. “They go back to job network and back on dole – how the hell does that work?”
Mr Aspland said people who did not accept job offers should be denied unemployment benefits.
“If you don’t show up for a job interview, you should not be entitled to anything,” he said. “We’re making it too easy for them.”
Mr Aspland said the Townsville economy was the worst he had seen.
And while he credits the State Government for its policies to improve the situation, he said the workforce itself was part of the problem.
“The younger generation wants to start at the top,” Mr Aspland said.
“Their expectation of working doesn’t match reality.
“They want the world at their feet and because their parents have given them the world. They think they can have everything.
“But it’s a big, tough, vicious world out there.”
The situation is so bad for Mr Aspland that he has already sold a business because of a lack of staff.
“I’ve been working 19 hours a day. On Sunday I got no sleep at all and worked for 38 hours straight,” he said.