Page 3679 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 20 October 1993
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A proactive approach needs to be taken in delivering on the promise that this youth policy gives to the community, particularly young people. By this I mean that State, local and Federal governments cannot look for an overall improvement in the economic climate before they implement programs for young people; nor can they link improvements in the lot of young people to improved conditions for the business sector. Young people are not only our future workers; they are future planners, thinkers, environmentalists, professionals and adventurers, among others. Our programs must identify their needs and act on those needs as a matter of urgency or today's young people will be left to repair the damage caused by inaction.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to turn to the specific objectives of the youth policy, the matters which the youth Ministers have agreed to progress. The first is consultation - a matter the ACT Government takes very seriously. The Chief Minister has talked a lot about the work of the Youth Advisory Council, and I feel that it is a positive move for government to position young people so close to the head of government, the Chief Minister. I would question, however, its breadth of consultation and advice. For example, I would be interested to know what the Chief Minister's Youth Advisory Council thought of the proposed cuts in teacher numbers in our schools. The principle of participation would indicate to me that, in an area such as this, with potential ramifications for young people, the Chief Minister's Youth Advisory Council would be a useful forum for debate of such an issue. I note that the council looks at many other issues, such as homelessness, health and welfare, but in the area of education we are still not asking for the opinions of young people in what are critical areas of government activity. I, for one, would be interested to hear of the council's comments.
The national youth policy next makes it incumbent on all youth Ministers to ensure that governments recognise their roles and responsibilities, and to develop and strengthen coordination and cooperation between all levels of government. In the ACT this, fortunately, will have limited application, as the ACT Government fulfils both local and State functions. But the ACT can play a very important role in the region, and in reminding the Federal Government of the need to keep youth issues in the forefront of its policy initiatives. The policy's third objective is to ensure that there is additional assistance for disadvantaged young people - an area where I am sure that the ACT is doing a good job in most areas. However, we can always do better. In education, I feel that the stated objective of high-quality and relevant educational opportunities to equitably meet the needs of all young people is one where we will soon find ourselves wanting.
The national youth policy also addresses the needs of young people in the areas of employment, environment, family and community life, health, housing and accommodation, income support, information, sporting, recreational and cultural needs, transport, vocational education and training, and the needs of those who work with young people. But the one area which I feel states the most fundamental objective is that of justice. The first statement of the justice objective is that Ministers should work "to ensure that young people are safe from exploitation, abuse, discrimination, neglect and violence". When taken to its logical policy extent, this one statement states a need for equity for young people, and places the onus on society to protect and nurture our young people, by providing them with the education, information and support they need to
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