PM Transcripts

A~ 29
AUSTRALIA Press Statement No. 79
1 May 1973
PUBLIC SERVICE BONDING
The Prime Minister announced today the
discontinuance of bonding of staff in the Commonwealth
Service. Opinion throughout the community is increasingly
opposed to the bonding of trainees. The Karmel Committee
of Enquiry into Education in South Australia in 1970
recorded its opposition to the whole principle of bonding
and thought it should be abolished as soon as circumstances
permitted. The Bell Committee of Inquiry into Teacher
Education in N. S. W. in 1971 expressed similar views. The
Senate Standing Committee on Education, Science and the
Arts in 1972 concluded that bonding was so financially and
socially wasteful that it should be scrapped.
The Public Service Board considers that in current
circumstances in the Commonwealth Service bonding is no
longer appropriate. Existing bond commitments will not be enforced.
Money paid by people in respect of contracts they have
previously breached will not be refunded.
Other aspects of cadetships and other trainee
schemes are being reviewed in the light of the current
circumstances and where appropriate these will be discussed
by the Public Service Board with staff associations.
CANBERRA, A. C. T.