Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 04 Hansard (Wednesday, 31 March 2004) . . Page.. 1448 ..

Admissions Centre and VicRoads data to stimulate enrolments from young people. This integrated program maintains enrolment of 18 year olds at or above 70% of the estimated eligible population and at corresponding higher levels for older age groups.

The council goes on to say:

Without access to a similar suite of data, programs targeting youth in the other states and the territories are not as effective.

It is worth noting that the AEC takes responsibility for maintaining up-to-date electoral rolls for federal, state and territory, and local government elections. They carry out the continuous roll update process as a means of ensuring an up-to-date electoral roll.

Over the last three years, the AEC has developed an increasing number of automated data-matching systems to ensure that the electoral roll is continuously reviewed and thereby more accurately maintained. Examples of data used in data matching are Australia Post redirection advices, Centrelink change of address advices and some state and territory motor transport data on new licences.

These are all good ideas and seem to be getting results for the commission. They should be encouraged to continue with these programs and develop more. The other important solution for the enrolment problem is civics education. Civics and citizenship education lets us look at our rights and responsibilities as citizens, analyse our history and endeavour to promote active citizenship, which touches all aspects of our lives.

ACT government civics and citizenship education aims to:

• provide students with an understanding of Australia’s history and the structures of Australian government and law

• provide students with an understanding of Australian national identity as it has changed over time and as it now is, encompassing cultural diversity and reconciliation and the opportunity to explore our beliefs and values

• provide students with an understanding of Australia’s role and place in the world community

• assist students to develop a sense of self in relation to community and to consider the rights and responsibilities of citizens

• ensure that students become involved in community service opportunities that contribute to the improvement of local, national and international communities.

It is a great program and plays an important role in our democracy, but I wonder if we are emphasising it enough at the moment. We should always be examining the value and effectiveness of our programs. That is why this motion calls on the Minister for Education to refer the current civics programs used in schools to the curriculum review team for investigation.

In conclusion, we have an entrenched problem: we cannot get enrolment levels to approach 100 per cent. We should not accept that the current situation is the best we can do. New strategies are needed to supplement the existing programs. We can learn from other jurisdictions and should look at adopting programs that work in other parts of the country.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .