Page 1897 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 5 May 2009
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The agreed national telephone early warning system will be a great advance in relation to the capacity of jurisdictions to inform and notify residents of a particular area under threat of the threat that they face. It is a significant advance. The telephone early warning system will be, I think, an incredibly useful additional tool in communicating with the community in an emergency, adding to the current approaches which we have around the support we receive from our local radio stations, the ESA website and Canberra Connect.
COAG also received a briefing from the deputy national security adviser on Australia’s response to the human swine influenza outbreak and resolved to take all necessary measures to prevent, where possible, the introduction, establishment or spread of swine influenza in Australia. I endorse COAG’s encouragement of Australians to be vigilant in their observance of basic personal hygiene, such as the washing of hands as a significant preventive measure against the spread of diseases such as influenza. I might add that the ACT cabinet has been briefed each of the last two weeks by the Chief Health Officer in the ACT in relation to preparations in hand here within the territory.
In light of rising unemployment rates from the global financial crisis, COAG agreed to establish a youth compact whereby young people aged 15 to 19 years will have an entitlement to an education or training place for any government subsidised qualification, subject to admission requirements and course availability. In addition, young people aged 20 to 24 will have an entitlement to an education or training place for any government subsidised qualification which would result in the individual obtaining a higher qualification, subject to admission requirements and course availability.
The commonwealth also agreed at COAG to provide $100 million in competitive performance-based funding to support delivery of the compact. These reward payments will recognise increases in Year 12 school retention rates, or apparent rates. As a result of representations I made at the meeting and importantly for the ACT, which already is at the head of the pack in this regard, these payments will recognise current achievement and increase over current baselines. It is a fact that the target set by COAG is 90 per cent of target, which the ACT is well in advance of the rest of Australia in achieving. It is important that we not be penalised for effort we have already made.
COAG also agreed the national framework for protecting Australia’s children. The Australian government is providing $61 million over four years to help protect Australia’s vulnerable children from child abuse and neglect under this new national framework.
In addition to this, COAG reaffirmed its commitment to introduce a comprehensive national strategy for energy efficiency.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Burch?
MS BURCH: Yes. Chief Minister, at last week’s COAG the ACT agreed to the implementation of a new compact with young Australians. Could the Chief Minister explain how this compact will work and how it will benefit young people in the ACT?
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