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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 3 Hansard (9 March) . . Page.. 739 ..
MR STEFANIAK: As I said, Mr Speaker, there are some very significant figures there. Indeed, another 11 per cent go within three months into meaningful training. That is some 45 per cent. That compares very favourably with some of the figures from some of the Labor schemes which previous Hawke and Keating governments introduced in an effort to put young Australians and not so young Australians into the workplace. That compares very favourably indeed. In fact, it is more effective than most, and I think people should not lose sight of that fact.
There is also the fact, as I have said, that we have quite a number of young people who are very keen to be part of this scheme. It is not a scheme that people have to be dragged into, kicking and screaming. It is a scheme many young people are very keen to get involved in. I think I have said before that a number of young people have contacted my office wondering how they can get involved in this scheme. We have a number of government schools who are keen to go ahead, despite the constant opposition that has been there all the time from groups like the AEU.
Ms Tucker: How many? How many schools and how many placements?
MR STEFANIAK: I understand that it is about 11 or so at this stage, Ms Tucker. I am not sure about the placements, but I understand that there are about 11 schools. That is despite the concerted efforts of a number of people to white-ant this scheme and the concerted efforts of the union, all the way through. They have made no bones about it. I have no dramas with the fact, Ms Tucker, that they oppose the scheme. They do not like it. That is fine.
Mr Berry is right. I think we do have about 90 per cent of our teaching profession in the AEU, and that is very significant. There are still a number of schools who are keen to go ahead despite all of that, and that, I think, is very important indeed. That is something that people should respect.
A lot of work has now gone into this scheme. The money is there. The scheme is ready to go. I think the people who are involved are ready to go. My understanding is that the scheme will now start in Term 2, which is not very far away. For it to be interrupted at this stage would, I think, be quite clearly wrong, and that is something that the Government simply would not be prepared to do. I think this amendment is a most unfortunate one, coming as it has at this very late stage, and I believe the Assembly should reject it.
MR SPEAKER: Before I call Mr Humphries I would like to recognise the presence in the gallery of students from Merici College who are here as part of their study of legislative process. We welcome you to your Assembly.
MR HUMPHRIES
(Treasurer, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Community Safety) (11.27): Mr Speaker, I will speak very briefly on this matter. Mr Stefaniak has outlined very clearly the reasons why the Government opposes this amendment. The reasons largely are that this process is well advanced at the moment; that already there is Commonwealth money dedicated in the ACT to this activity in ACT schools; that there is already a public commitment to proceed; and there is already
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