PM Transcripts

FOR MEDIA SATURDAY, 17 JULY 1982
AUSTRALI: A'S PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR
The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 1.985
as " International Youth Year" and deemed the themes of the
Year as " Participation, Development and Peace". The Year
will aim to emphasise and encourage the role of young people
in national achievement and development. While the primary
emphasis wilL be on national activities, the Year will
encourage involvement at the international level, particularly
in the Asian--Pacific Region. There would also be a significant
focusing on activities leading up to 1985, with 1985 to be
essentially a year for evaluating and celebrating achievements.
Co-ordination of Australia' s participation at the national
level in International Youth Year will be the responsibility
of the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations.
A national Youth Year Secretariat has been established in
the Office of Youth Affairs. I will also be asking other
Commonwealth Ministers to consider how activities within
their portfo: lios could contribute towards International Youth
Year. I am writing to the State Premiers and the Chief Minister
of the Northern Territory to seek their support in developing
effective arrangements for the co-ordination of International
Youth Year activities at the State and Territory level.
I should strass the important role that non-government bodies
will have in the International Youth Year. The National
Youth Advisory Group will play a significant role in developing
plans for the Year. So too will the Youth Affairs Council
of Australia, which has already participated in a recent
Asian-Pacific Youth Forum in Fiji to discuss activities
having particular interest for the countries of the Region.
The Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations would
welcome suggestions for possible activities and projects
from non-government youth organisations, business, educational
and other institutions, and particularly from young people
themselves. The success of Australia's participation in
International Youth Year depends largely on the willingness
of the community as a whole to become involved by sharing in
the development and staging of activities.
I am confident that this early start to the planning for
International Youth Year will have positive results for
the young people of Australia.