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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 10 Hansard (Wednesday, 25 August 2004) . . Page.. 4193 ..

Question so resolved in the negative.

Job training for students at risk

MS DUNDAS (6.06): I move:

That this Assembly:

(1) recognises:

(a) that children from jobless households are more likely to become unemployed than children from households with one or more working parents;

(b) that a school-leaver with an established employment record is less likely to become unemployed; and

(c) that part-time work increases the social and educational opportunities of young people from low income families; and

(2) calls on the ACT Government to offer optional after-school job training to “at risk” year 9 students so they are equipped to take up part-time employment outside school hours, with training to commence in the 2005 school year.

Mr Speaker, this motion is motivated by a strong desire to help tackle our youth unemployment problem. Unemployment in the ACT has dropped to a record low level, but young people are still unemployed at a disproportionately high rate. Compared to a young person with an established part-time work history, young people with no work history are far less likely to find a job when they leave school.

Mrs Burke: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: there’s a lot of audible noise and I can’t hear Ms Dundas.

MR SPEAKER: I think people are moving. If we can cut the conversation so that Ms Dundas can have a fair go with her speech. Ms Dundas has the floor.

MS DUNDAS: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Compared to a young person with an established part-time work history, young people with no work history are far less likely to find a job when they leave school, and young people who are unemployed for a substantial period immediately after leaving school are at substantial risk of becoming part of the long-term unemployed. I think we are all well aware of the range of problems that then flow from long-term unemployment.

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