Page 3335 - Week 11 - Thursday, 22 September 1994
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the expansion of the number of traineeships provided by the Minister for Education and Training through his department; the examination of appropriate information programs for impending school leavers, again through the department of the Minister for Education and Training; and the coordination and oversight role given to the ACT Government Service Social Justice Committee for the initiatives, with specific terms of reference.
Madam Speaker, as members will be aware, I have had a longstanding interest in the issue of teenage unemployment in the ACT, an interest which predates my election to the Assembly. Members will be aware that on 12 May 1992 I raised, as a matter of public importance, that the ACT Assembly urgently address the major social issue of youth unemployment. In speaking to this matter, I noted that 25 per cent of our young people were unable to find work, or in raw terms 1,100 people in the 15 to 19 age group. I also noted that, in polling preceding the 1992 election, the Michael Moore Independent Group identified that youth unemployment was seen by 90 to 95 per cent of respondents as a major problem for those in government. In speaking to that matter of public importance, the Chief Minister said:
The most notable feature of our unemployment statistics is the fact that young unemployed people continue to face severe disadvantage, and the unemployment rate for young people is at an atrociously unacceptable level.
Following debate on the matter of public importance, during which a number of members voiced their concerns, I moved a motion to establish a select committee of the Assembly to investigate youth unemployment. This motion was:
That:
a select committee be appointed to inquire into and report on youth unemployment in the ACT with particular reference to the level of youth unemployment and strategies to alleviate the impact on the community;
... ... ...
After some debate, Mr Berry moved:
That:
(1) the motion be referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy for consideration and report as to the necessity for a select committee and further inquiry.
On 18 June 1992, the Standing Committee on Social Policy reported back to the Assembly, as required by Mr Berry's motion. The report stated, in part:
It has the potential to legitimise the practice of establishing a select committee each time a proposed inquiry is not supported by a majority of members on the relevant Standing Committee.
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