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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 3 Hansard (9 March) . . Page.. 740 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

cooperation from schools to proceed. There are a number of schools in the ACT which are prepared to work with this program to produce benefits both for the young people who are unemployed that are involved in the program and for the schools generally. That is a worthwhile goal, Mr Speaker, and I strongly urge members not to block this important initiative.

I note that even the Federal Leader of the Opposition has not gone so far as to wish to pull the Federal ALP out of the work for the dole scheme. His view, and apparently his party's view, is that the scheme ought to be preserved. I think he went to the last Federal election saying that under a Federal Labor Government there would still be a work for the dole scheme. You can imagine what Mr Berry et al would be saying today if it was a Federal Labor scheme under which we were proposing that these 11 schools, or whatever number it is, should be involved in a work for the dole scheme. You can well imagine what he would be saying.

Mr Speaker, I think Mr Stefaniak has made it perfectly clear, but I will repeat the fact that the Government is committed to this scheme. We believe it is of value to the unemployed people of this community for whom this Government has provided so much in the way of creation of jobs in the last five years. This Government will continue to focus on the creation and retention of jobs in this Territory. I think the relevant figure is 12,000 jobs in the last five years. Mr Speaker, 12,000 people have something to be thankful for due to the fact that this Government is in office. We indicate at this stage, and put it very clearly on the record, that we regard the motion as amended by Mr Osborne's amendment as a call, a request, to the Government. The Government wants to put on the record very clearly, absolutely clearly, that it intends to proceed with this scheme in ACT schools, and that the request not to proceed comes too late to be seriously heeded by this Government.

MR SPEAKER: Ms Tucker, are you speaking to the amendment?

MS TUCKER (11.34): Yes. I am pleased to see that Mr Osborne has come into this discussion. I am really pleased to see that he has looked in detail at the committee report and the evidence that came before it, I understand. In fact, Mr Osborne's office has also looked at the submissions. As a member of this Assembly, he has taken an appropriate interest in this and after having done so has come up with this amendment at this late stage. I certainly am supportive of it.

Mr Stefaniak says that 11 schools are involved. I would like to know the number of placements. Hopefully, he can get back to us on this. I know that originally the proposal was to be 140 placements. It would be interesting to know how that has been renegotiated with the Federal Government. In fact, there are not very many placements or as many now. The Assembly would be interested in and entitled to know what has changed, if it has changed, or are you saying you have placed 140 young unemployed people? We would like details on that.

MR SPEAKER: Order, please! There is too much audible conversation. Ms Tucker has the floor.

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