PM Transcripts

AU T ALI~~
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 13 OCfOBER 1978
ABORIGINAL EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
The Prime Minister has written to State Premiers and to the
Chief Minister of the Northern Territory concerning employment and
training of Aboriginals.
He has informed Premiers that, under the National Em-ployme nt
Strategy for Aboriginals, Commonwealth Departments have been
asked to renew efforts towards employing Aboriginals and
identifying positions where an Aboriginal background could be a
significant factor in the efficient performance of the jobs
concerned.
He has also said that the Commonwealth Department of Construction
now requires tenderers, in areas where Aboriginals comprise a
significant proportion of the population, to consult with the
Department of Employment and Industrial Relations regarding the
possibility of employing and training Aboriginals.
The Prime Minister sought the cooperation of State Premiers and
the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory in promoting the
employment of Aboriginals in State and local government.
The Prime Minister asked the Premiers and Chief Minister to
consider inserting a clause into specifications for State works
similar to that for Commonwealth works and to consider giving the
opportunities to contract for small-scale works being carried out
in or adjacent to Aboriginal communities.
With regard to training for Aboriginals, the Prime Minister said
the Commonwealth Government was undertaking a review of all
existing training schemes to assess their effectiveness and see
if any new steps needed to be taken.
He asked the Premiers and the Chief Minister to participate in
the review of existing training schemes.
The Prime Minister also asked the Premiers and the Chief Minister
to examine the possibility of providing training opportunities,
over and above normal departmental requirements, to enable
Aboriginals to receive basic skills and work experience in a num-ber
of areas. Commonwealth financial assistance under the
National Employment and Training ( NEAT) Scheme would be available
to fund. such training.