Ms Anne Costello:

I thank the Senator for his comments. Supports for employers are important and the public sector is a big employer that needs to lead by example. The learning from that can give confidence and hope to private employers. We are focusing today on the public sector because sometimes one can put a lot of effort into the private sector with very little result. I agree with the Senator around the need for targets. We need realistic targets for Travellers in employment and the Government has control over the public sector.

The issue around supports for prisoners is important. It costs a lot to keep somebody in prison and it is a shame not to take advantage of that time to give him or her skills that make him or her less likely to return to prison. Prisoners who take up employment are much less likely to return to prison.