Page 2577 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 24 August 1993
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The statement will also highlight those areas the Government needs to address to further improve the quality of life for young people in the ACT through identifying gaps in policy development and service provision. It will also offer a yardstick against which to measure the effectiveness of the Government's resource allocation. I believe that the production of the youth budget statement for the first time this year demonstrates the Government's commitment to addressing the needs of young people through taking a whole-of-government approach to the issues. In addition, it is important to note that this approach is consistent with the objectives of the national youth policy. The Government is also committed to ensuring that young people in the ACT have the opportunity to participate in decision making which affects their futures. In line with this commitment I have recently appointed a new Youth Advisory Council. This council is invaluable to me as a source of advice on issues affecting young people and as a vehicle for receiving young people's views. The first council provided not just me but areas across government with useful insights and constructive suggestions which we were able to use in defining our policy objectives. In particular, the first council's work program focused on the specific needs of young women, on youth employment, on the housing and welfare needs of young people, on young people's health needs and on the relationship of young people to the law. I look forward to receiving further high-quality advice and ideas from my second council.
Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to reiterate my support for the outcomes of the meeting of the Youth Ministers Council and, in particular, the endorsement of the national youth policy. Further, I wholeheartedly support the concept of this policy as a living document which will be adapted over time to address emerging needs and to recognise new challenges facing young people. On the implementation of the national policy, I am pleased to advise members that a working group of officials, including representatives from the ACT, is developing strategies for governments to follow in actually meeting the policy's objectives. This will involve examining current programs, services and activities against the policy's objectives. From this exercise it will then be possible to identify gaps and overlaps in service provision and linkages between key issues.
This Government is committed to addressing in a strategic and comprehensive manner the many difficult issues which face young people in the ACT. Our close participation in the development and implementation of the national youth policy, the preparation of a youth budget and the appointment of the second Youth Advisory Council are important reflections of this commitment. I believe that the national youth policy provides a very valuable tool for us to use in ensuring that our policies and programs are developed and delivered in a considered and coordinated way and in a way that ultimately endeavours to assist young people with the challenges they face. I understand that the national policy will be publicly available from the Commonwealth in the near future, and I will be very pleased to provide copies of the policy to members when this occurs. I present the following paper:
Youth Ministers Council Meeting and National Youth Policy - Ministerial statement, 24 August 1993.
I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
Debate (on motion by Ms Szuty) adjourned.
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