Page 1255 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 16 April 1991
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that these are mostly in the private sector. So, the private sector is beginning to generate the jobs and that, in the end, is what the policies of this Government are seeking to achieve - to stimulate the private sector. This again compares with the national situation where employment is decreasing.
I think the other significant factor, Mr Speaker, is that the teenage unemployment rate in the ACT has fallen dramatically. It was only 18.3 per cent in March, and that has dropped from the seasonal figure of 35.7 per cent in January and 23.5 per cent in February. I am pleased to say that this is now lower than the national figure of 25.2 per cent. It is the lowest rate for any State or Territory in Australia. This is in line with a trend which I foreshadowed when the Leader of the Opposition cynically attempted to secure a few cheap political points by raising youth unemployment as a matter of public importance in February when she knew that the figures were at a seasonal high. That was cynical, and a cheap trick.
The March figures again demonstrate that the Opposition does not understand either the causes or the circumstances of unemployment in the ACT, and its members had better learn, if they ever hope to aspire to government, that an understanding of seasonality is fundamental to the understanding of the ACT labour market - something that they have demonstrated that they do not understand. They demonstrated that quite adequately when it was debated in February.
Mr Speaker, I would like to make three points in respect of the efforts of this Government to reduce youth unemployment and unemployment generally. Firstly, despite the quick-fix options of the Labor Opposition, there are no quick fixes to this problem. Job creation programs of the past, such as the RED scheme, the community employment program and the community youth support scheme did not work, and they will not work, and they are not a solution. Secondly, this Government has focused on creating the right environment for the growth and diversification of the local economy when faced with the static, if not declining, presence of the Federal Government in Canberra - - -
Mr Berry: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: I think the Chief Minister is testing the standing orders, because they ask for a concise answer and, of course, they ask for the matter not to be debated. I suggest - - -
MR SPEAKER: Mr Berry, under the circumstances of today's filming, I am sure that the Chief Minister will allow sufficient question time so that everyone gets a question. I do not believe that that is a problem. Chief Minister, would you please continue.
Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, I must persist with my point of order. The issue is whether or not the standing orders are being breached, not whether we are having our photos taken.
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