Page 3355 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 17 September 1991
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1991-92 Initiatives
As I said at the outset, my Government has adopted a disciplined approach to financial management in this budget to ensure that our priority services are protected. I have a strong commitment to keeping the promises that I made to the community in the past, and only making further promises which I can keep. I believe that this is essential if we are to provide stable government for the Territory at a time of great financial strain. Our focus in this budget is on putting our existing structures in order. We have not sought to introduce vote catching new programs which would threaten the rapid adjustment this Territory is undergoing.
The Government has therefore confined itself to introducing a limited range of high priority initiatives this year. These new programs will cost $2m this year, and $2.8m in a full year. By rearranging our priorities within existing resources, other important needs of the community have been addressed.
Employment and Training
In the area of employment and training, my Government believes that improving the skills base of our work force is fundamental to future economic growth. Teenage full-time unemployment in the ACT, which has averaged 20 per cent in recent months, is far too high. Accordingly, the budget contains a number of initiatives aimed at improving training and employment prospects, particularly for young people.
We will provide some 60 full-time priority places for ACT school leavers in high demand associate diploma courses at TAFE. These places will not only respond to labour market demands for specialised skills but also offset the universities' inability to cater for all students wishing to gain admission. We have re-established an enrolled nurses training program to be run by ACT TAFE.
The ACT Government Service will double its intake of trainees under the Australian traineeship scheme this financial year, with further substantial increases in the following years. By using the Federal subsidy to further develop trainees' skills and provide them with extra work placements, we aim to help them become more saleable in today's competitive job market.
Funding of $200,000 in a full year will be provided to set up a new venture and development assistance program for young people. This program will support young unemployed people by providing grants to help them seek job skills outside the mainstream training and education systems. Funds will be made available to non-government organisations to run programs addressing job skills and related issues such as self-esteem and assertiveness; and to encourage non-government organisations to open up business opportunities for young people.
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