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Australia jobless rate rises to 4-year high

Friday, 13 March 2009


MELBOURNE, Mar 12 (AFP): Australia's unemployment rate rose to a four-year high of 5.2 per cent in February as the number of full-time jobs slumped, according to official data released Thursday.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the figures showed the government was right to press ahead with a 42 billion Australian dollar (27.3 billion US) economic stimulus package.