Page 281 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 12 May 1992
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It has been suggested that it be sent off to the Social Policy Committee. I have to say that the question and debate which have received some attention in the Assembly today, though suggesting that the Social Policy Committee may have considered the matter, cannot formally be seen to have indicated so.
Mr Moore: Be careful, Mr Berry; you are getting very close there.
Mr Kaine: You are skating on thin ice, Mr Berry.
Mr Moore: Yes, exactly. There have been warnings about that matter this evening.
MADAM SPEAKER: There is about to be another one, I think.
Mr Kaine: Do you not have a word of advice for the Minister, Madam Speaker?
MADAM SPEAKER: No, I think the Minister knows the rules.
MR BERRY: I can assure the Speaker that I will be careful enough to keep out of trouble. It nevertheless raises the issue of whether or not the matter has been closely considered. In my view, the Standing Committee on Social Policy is the appropriate committee to consider aspects such as this, and that is evidenced by the appearance of youth unemployment or employment issues in the guidelines for the committee. I think it would be appropriate for the committee to sit down and flog out whether or not a further committee would prove anything.
From the Government's point of view, we are satisfied that we are working towards better things for youngsters in the community when it comes to the issue of unemployment. That is not to say that other people cannot provide constructive advice to government. I am not suggesting that the Liberals might do that, but other people may well do so.
Mr Kaine: You already have the advice from the Liberal Party, which you choose to ignore.
MR BERRY: Yes, but that is never constructive. That comes from consultants.
Mr Moore: Yes, just cut payroll tax out altogether - no worries.
Mrs Carnell: Do it, and I will employ three more people tomorrow.
MR BERRY: I hear Kate Carnell say, "Do it, and I will employ three more people tomorrow".
Mr Kaine: There would be $85m worth of relief for the private sector. How many jobs does that translate into?
MR BERRY: How do you make up the $85m? Is it out of the "frightpack"? It is all silliness from the Liberals again. We have to have the Assembly advised, and I think it would be appropriate for it to be considered by the Social Policy Committee. I trust that the Social Policy Committee would consider this as a matter of priority and report to the Assembly on whether or not we should do anything more about it or rely on the Government to get on with the job. That is something for the committee to consider, and I suspect that some serious issues ought to be considered.
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