CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY EMBARGOED AGAINST DELIVERY
SPEECH BY THE PRIM4E MINISTER TO THE
TENTH CONFERENCE OF ASIAN AND PACIFIC LABOUR MINISTERS
MELBOURNE, 1 OCTOBER 1985
DELEGATES BOTH PERSONALLY, AND ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE
PEOPLE OF AUSTRALIA I WELCOME ALL PARTICIPANTS TO THIS,
THE 10th BIENNIAL CONFERENCE OF ASIAN AND PACIFIC LABOUR
MINISTERS. I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE A PERSONAL WELCOME
TO MY LONGSTAN4DING FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE THE DIRECTORGENERAL
OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION,
FRA14CIS BLANCHARD, AND TO THANK HIM FOR HIS ATTEN4DANCE
AND ADDRESS TO THIS CONFERENCE.
IT IS FITTING TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE WORK OF THE ILO,
WHICH HAS OBSERVER STATUS AT THIS CONFERENCE. AS MANY
OF YOU ARE AWARE, THE PRIMARY TASK OF THE ILO IS TO SET
TINTER1NATIONAL LABOUR STANDARDS OF UNIVERSAL CHARACTER,
AND TO PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE AND BETTER WORKIN G
CONDITIONS FOR ALL WORKERS. TO THIS END, THE ILO NOT
ONLY ADOPTS CONVENTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT
ACTIVELY ASSISTS COUNTRIES TO FORMULATE AND IMPLEMENT
NATIONAL LABOUR POLICIES IN THE LIGHT OF THOSE
CONVENTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
I AM PROUD OF THE LONG HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY'S CLOSE
LINKS WITH THE ILO. AS MR BLANCHARD HAS NOTED AUSTRALIA
WAS ONE OF THE ILO'S FOUNDING MEMBER COUNTRIES IN 1919.
IN ADDITION, AUSTR'. LIA IS CURRENTLY A MEMBER OF THE
ILO'S GOVERNING BODY.
PERSONALLY, I HAVE LONG BEEN COMMITTED TO THE TRIPARTITE
APPROACH WHICH IS AN ESSENTIAL ASPECT OF THE I. L. O.
SUCH AN APPROACH IS CENTRAL TO THE AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENT'S CONSIDERATION OF PROBLEMS AND ISSUES. AND
THIS APPROACH ONE OF TRIPARTISM IS PROVING
REMARKABLY SUCCESSFUL.
THE RECENT OECD) EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK FOR SEPTEM4BER 1985
CONFIRMS THE SOUNDNESS OF MY GOVERNMENT'S PRICES AND
INCOMES ACCORD AND OUR GENERAL ECONOMIC POLICIES. THE
REPORT'S PROJECTIONS SHOW AUSTRALIA'S LABOUR MiARKET WILL
BE THE MOST BUOYANT IN THE OECD IN 1985 AND 1986. AFTER
SOME SEVEN YEARS OF VIRTUALLY STAGNANT JOB GROWTH PRIOR
TO 1983, THIS IS A TREMENDOUS TURNAROUND. EMPLOYMENT
GROWTH IN AUSTRALIA IS FORECAST, BY THE OECD, TO RISE BY
2 3/ 4 PER CENT IN 1985 AND 2 PER CENT IN 1986. THIS
COMPARES WITH JOB GROWTH IN THE OECD AS A WHOLE OF 1 1/ 4.
PER CENT IN 1985 AND 1 PER CENT IN 1986.
AUSTRALIA IS CLEARLY OUTSTRIPPING EMPLOYMENT GROWTH IN
OTHER COUNTRIES, AND WE ARE DOING IT UNDER POLICIES
BASED ON4 THE PRICES AND INCOMES ACCORD AN ACCORD WHICH
REPRESENTS OUR C pNSENSUS APPROACH TO GOVERNMENT.
I AM AWARE THAT THE PRINCIPAL ITEMS ON THE CAPLM
AGENDA ARE THE IMPACT OF NATIONAL LABOUR POLICIES ON
YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE REGION AND TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION IN
THE LABOUR FIELD.
IN THIS ADDRESS I SHOULD LIKE, AMONGST OTHER THINGS, TO
HIGHLIGHT THE CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE OF THE ILO IN FOCUSSING
ATTENTION ON YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE 1983 INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE ADOPTED A
RESOLUTION ON YOUNG PEOPLE REQUESTING THE ILO TO
UNDERTAKE A SURVEY ON YOUNG PEOPLE AND WORK AS PART OF
INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR IYY. THE 72ND INTERNATIONAL
LABOUR CONFERENCE IN 1986 WILL INCLUDE A GENERAL
DISCUSSION ON YOUNG PEOPLE. SUCH ACTIVITIES WILL
PROVIDE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBER COUNTRIES TO
DISCUSS A VAST RANGE OF POLICY OPTIONS AND TO EXCHANGE
INFORMATION.
THE UNITED NATIONS ALSO IS TO BE COMMENDED FOR
RECOGNISING THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN DECLARING
1985 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR. HOWEVER, WE ALL
RECOGNISE THAT WHILE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR IS A
USEFUL AND A NECESSARY MEANS OF DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE
NEEDS, ASPIRATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE,
WHAT IS NEEDED ABOVE ALL ELSE ARE SUSTAINABLE LONG-TERll
ACTIVITIES AND POLICIES, RATHER THAN JUST ONE YEAR OF
CONCENTRATED EFFORT.
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE AM4ONG OUR GREATEST RESOURCES. THEY
MAKE AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO OUR NATIONS'
WELL-BEING WHETHER THAT BE THROUGH THEIR STUDIES,
THEIR LEISURE AND SPORTING PURSUITS, THEIR PART IN
FAMILY LIFE, OR AS MEMBERS OF OUR RESPECTIVE LABOUR
FORCES. COLLECTIVELY THEY ARE OUR NATIONS' FUTURE.
COUNTRIES WITHIN OUR REGION HAVE EXPERIENCED A
SIGNIFICANT' GROWTH IN POPULATION WHICH HAS LED TO LARGE
NUMBERS OF Y( OUNG PEOPLE COMING ONTO THF LABOUR MARKET.
IN ADDITION, RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE, SLOW ECONOMI1C
GROWH RATES AND DECLINING AGRICULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES
ARE LEADING TO ACCELERATED URBANISATION AND TO HIGH
LEVELS OF UNEMPLOYMENT, BORNE DISPROPORTIONATELY BY
YOUNG PEOPLE.
THUS, THERE IS KEEN INTEREST IN THE ASIA/ PACIFIC REGION,
SUPPORTING AS IT DOES APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE WORLD'S
POPULATION, FOR A CONFERENCE WHICH DEALS WITH THE IMPACT
OF LABOUR M4ARKET POLICIES ON YOUNG PEOPLE.
MANY OP' OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE INADEQUATELY PREPARED FOR
ENTRY INTO WORKING LIFE. UNFORTUNATELY TOO 14ANY OF OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE LACK THE NECESSARY BASIC SKILLS TO
CONTRIBUTE IMMEDIATELY TO THE LABOUR MARKET.
TOO MIANY OF OUJR YOUNG PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE AN ADEQUATE
KNOWLEDGE OF * OCCUPATIONS, THE ORGANISATION OF WORK, HOW
TO FIND A JOB, HOW TO PRESENT THEM4SELVES TO EMPLOYERS.
AND TOO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ILL-EQUIPPED TO SURVIVE
WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF FAMILY AND CLOSE FRIENDS.
IN THE DECADE TO 1983, UNEMPLOYMENT IN AUSTRALIA ROSE TO
LEVELS UNPARALLELED SINCE THE 1930S. THE IMPACT ON
YOUNG PEOPLE-OF DEPRESSED CONDITIONS IN THE LABOUR
MARKET AND THE ECONOMY IN THIS PERIOD WAS PARTICULARLY
SEVERE. THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS NOW IMPOVED
CONSIDERABLY, THOUGH REGRETABLY SOME 216,300 YOUNG
PEOPLE OR 14.4% OF THE LABOUR FORCE WERE STILL RECORDED
AS UNEMPLOYED AND SEEKING FULL-TIME WORK IN JULY 1985.
THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS IN T-HE PAST TWO AND A HALF
YEARS INITIATED A RANGE OF INQUIRIES WHICH HAVE PROVIDED
THE BASIS FOR A CONSTRUCTIVE RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEMS
FACILG YOUNG AUSTRALIANS.
IN PkRTICULAR, WE HAVE THIS YEAR, ANNOUNCED A STRATEGYPRIORITY
ONE FOR YOUNG AUSTRALIANS WHICH WILL BRING
INTO HARMONY A NUMBER OF POLICIES AND PROGRAMS AIMED AT
NOT ONLY REDUCING STILL FURTHER THE NUMBER OF YOUNG
PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE UNEMPLOYMENT BUT ALSO IMPROVING
THE NGE OF ALTERNATIVES ONCE THEY HAVE REACHED POSTCOMPUkLSORY
SCHOOLING AGE.
THER-T NRE FOUR PRINCIPAL PARTS OF MY GOVERNMENT'S
STRA:-EGY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
FIRST, WE ARE MAKING IT POSSIBLE, FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO
DO SO, TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING BEYOND
POST -COMPULSORY YEARS. WE ARE OFFERING MORE PLACES IN
TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS, AND REMOVING THE DISPARITY
BETWEEN EDUCATION ALLOWANCES AND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
SECOND, WE ARE INTRODUCING ( AND THIS WILL DOUBTLESS BE
OF MOST INTEREST TO YOUR HERE TODAY) A NEW COMBINATION
OF TRAINING AND WORK, CALLED TRAINEESHIPS.
WITH TRAINEESHIPS, OUR GOAL IS TO GREATLY IMPROVE THE
VOCATIONAL TRAINING OF THOSE NUMEROUS YOUNG PEOPLE WHO
DO NOT ASPIRE TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND WHO FIND
DIFFICULTIES ENTERING THE LABOUR MARKET BECAUSE OF THEIR
LACK OF SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE.
TRAINEESHIPS WILL LAST FOR A YEAR, WILL PROVIDE
EMPLOYMENT,' A WAGE, AND TRAINING BOTH ON-AND-OFF-THEJOB.
WE WANT 1OO10O YOUNG PEOPLE TO BENEFIT FROM
TRAINEESHIPS IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION AND FOR THAT
NUMBER TO INCREASE To 75,000 IN 1988.
. ATHE
GOVERNMENT'S STRATEGY ALSO INCLUDES A
RATIONALISATION OF THE VARIOUS INCOM4E SUPPORT SCHEMES
THAT WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER DISADVAN4TAGED YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE! MAIN SCHEMES WILL BECOME AGE-RELATED, AND INDEXED TO
ENSURE THEY KEEP THEIR REAL VALUE.
THE FOURTH PART OF OUR STRATEGY RECOGNISES THAT YOUNG
PEOPLE NEED OTHER SUPPORT PROVISIONS BEYOND THOSE THAT I
HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED, PARTICULARLY IF THEY ARE TO MAKE
A SUCCESSFUL TRAN4SITION TO ADULTHOOD.
THESE OTHER ARRANGEMENTS RELATE TO SUPPORT IN SUCH AREAS
AS ACCOMMODATION, TRAINING IN FUNDAMENTAL LIVING SKILLS,
HEALTH, AND DRUG EDUCATION.
ALTHOUGH THE REDUCTION OF YOUTH WAGES HAS BEEN ADVOCATED
BY SOME AS AN ANSWER TO YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT, THE
GOVERNMENT REJECTS THIS SIMPLISTIC VIEW AND ACCEPTS THE
NEED FOR A CONSTRUCTIVE, MULTI-PRONGED AND POSITIVE
APPROACH WHICH RAISES THE PRODUCTIVITY OF OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE. SUCH AN APPROACH WILL ENHANCE THEIR EMPLOYM4ENT
PROSPECTS AND INCREASE THEIR FLEXIBILITY IN THE LABOUR
FORCE. THE SOLUTIONS TO HIGH YOUTH UNEM4PLOY14ENT ARE NOT SIMPLE,
OR CHEAP, OR EASY, OR SWIFT AND THEY NEED THE FULL
COOPERATION OF ALL SECTIO>: S OF THE COMMUNITY.
CO-OPERATION BETWEEN ALL SECTIONS IS THE VERY BASIS OF
OUR POLICIES. INDEED Trii ;\' INTH CONFERENCE OF ASIAN AND
PACIFIC LABOUR MINISTERS CONCLUDED THAT PROBLEMS FACING
PARTICULAR COUNTRIES IN REGION COULD NOT BE OVERCOME
THROUGH LONE EFFORTS,. BUT REQUIRED THE CLOSE COOPERATION
AND EFFORT OF ALL COUNTRIES ACTING TOGETHER.
A FURTHER ASPECT OF THIS CO-OPERATIVE PROCESS, ON WHICH
THE 9TH CAPLM CONFERENCE PLACED GREAT STRESS, IS THE
NEED FOR PROMOTION OF TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION IN
EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR FORCE DEVELOPMENT. SUCH PROMOTION
PRESENTS AN EFFECTIVE WAY OF ASSISTING COUNTRIES IN
THEIR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND IN THE
IMPROVEMENT OF WORKING CONDITIONS.
IN THE GOVERNMENT'S VIEW, AUSTRALIA HAS AN IMPORTANT
ROLE TO PLAY IN THIS ARENA, PARTICULARLY AS WE ARE PART
OF THE MOST ECONOMICALLY DYNAMIC REGION IN THE WORLD.
IN THIS CONTEXT, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT
CONSTRUCTIVE STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO BRIDGE GAPS
REM4AINING IN RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND ITS
PACIFIC AND ASIAN NEIGHBOURS.
AT THE RECENT SOUTH PACIFIC FORUM, UNDER THE AUSPICES OF
THE SOUTH PACiFIC REGIONAL TRADE AND ECONOMIC
COOPERATION AGREEMENT ( SPARTECA), I ANNOUNCED THAT AS
FROM THE BEGINNING OF 1987, ALL GOODS FROM THE FORUM
ISLAND COUNTRIES AND PAPUA NEW GUINEA WILL ENTER
AUSTRALIA ON A DUTY FREE UNRESTRICTED BASIS EXCEPT FOR
THOSE COVERED BY AUSTRALIAN SECTORAL POLICIES. SUCH
LIBERALISED MARKET ACCESS SHOULD REMOVE MANY
DI FFI CULT IES.' THESE COUNTRIES MAY HAVE ENCOUNTERED
EXPORTING TO'AUSTRALIA, AS WELL AS INCREASING EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES IN THOSE COUNTRIES.
AT THE FORUM BOTH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND ALSO OFFERED
TO ENTER INTO DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SOUTH PACIFIC ISLAND
COUNTRIES ABOUT WHETHER THERE WOULD BE ADVANTAGE TO THEM
IN ENTERING A BROADENED AUSTRALIA/ NEW ZEALAND CLOSER
ECONOMIC RELATIONS AGREEMENT. THIS OFFER.-WHICH
CARRIES IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS FOR LONG-TERM TRADE
RELATIONS WITHIN THE REGION-WAS INTRODUCED BY THE FORUM
AND WILL BE FURTHER CONSIDERED AT NEXT YEAR'S MEETING OF
THE REGIONAL TRADE COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE ALSO ESTABLISHED A SOUTH PACIFIC REGIONAL TEAM4
TO PROVIDE SPECIALISED ADVICE TO THE AUSTRALIAN
DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE BUREAU ON THE PARTICULAR
DEVELOPMENT NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF SMALL ISLAND
COUNTRIES. AMONG THE RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED IN RESPECT OF TECHNICAL
CO-OPERATION AT CAPLM 9 WERE THE NEED FOR PARTICULAR
ATTENTION TO BE PAID TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
AND THE AGREEMENT TO PROM OTE THE ESTABLISHMENT OR
IMPROVEMENT OF RESEARCH INSTITUTES AND REHABILITATION
FACILITIES. AUSTRALIA COMMENDS THESE FIELDS OF ENDEAVOUR TO CAPLM
FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE CONTEXT OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT WHILE TECHNICAL COOPERATION
IS A STANDING AGENDA ITEM AT CAPLM, THE
MATCHING OF RHETORIC WITH ACTIONS CAN BE DIFFICULT TO
ACHIEVE. THIS DIFFICULTY ARISES IN PART BECAUSE LABOUR AFFAIRS
ARE NOT ALWAYS GIVEN HIGH PRIORITY BY AID CO-ORDINATING
BODIES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. IT IS ALSO OFTEN
DIFFICULT FOR MULTILATERAL PROGRAMS TO FOCUS ADEQUATELY
ON THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES AND APPROPRIATE
MEANS OF SATISFYING THOSE NEEDS, ESPECIALLY AS
MULTILATERAL AGENCIES TYPICALLY ARE FINANCIALLY
CONSTRAINED.
WE THEREFORE WELCOME THE PROPOSALS FOR GREATER EMPHASIS
ON REGIONAL CO-OPERATION AND COLLECTiVE SELF RELIANCE
THROUGH SCHEMES SUCH AS THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC SKILLS
DEVELOPING PROGRAM.
SUCH PROPOSALS ARE A POSITIVE STEP IN THE DIRECTION OF
ENCOURAGING GREATER SELF SUFFICIENCY WHILST AT THE SAME
TIME INVOLVING MORE INTERACTION AM4ONG INDIVIDUAL
COUNTRIES OF,, THE REGION. I WISH DELEGATES EVERY SUCCESS
IN ACHIEVING-THESE DESIRABLE AIMS.
AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT
RECOGNISEq TiIE IMPORTANCE OF THE TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION
ACTIVITIES 0F THE ILO WHICH SUPPORT DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
IN FORM4ULATING EFFECTIVE LABOUR POLICIES.
MY GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THAT HUMAN RESOURCES
DEVELOPMENT TO WHICH TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION CAN MAKE A
SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION IS AN IMPORTANT AREA WHICH
PLACES STRONG PRESSURES ON LABOUR ADMINISTRATIONS. AS A
MEMBER OF THE ILO AND ITS GOVERNING BODY, MY COUNTRY IS
CONCERNED THAT THE LIM'ITED RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR
TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO AREAS OF
GREATEST NEED AND BELIEVES THAT GREATER EMPHASIS SHOULD
BE PLACED ON MEASURES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY,
EFFECTIVENESS AND EVALUATION OF PROGRAMS.
AGAINST THAT BACKGROUND, AUSTRALIA IS PLEASED TO INFORM
THE MEETING THAT IT RATIFIED ILO CONVEN4TIONS NO 142 ON
HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPM4ENT AND NO 150 ON LABOUR
ADMINISTRATION ON 10 SEPTEMBER 1985.
THROUGH ITS AID PROGRAMS, AUSTRALIA PROVIDES A
SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES IN OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE REGION.
SPECIFICALLY, WE SPENT OVER $ 137 MILLION DOLLARS IN
1984-85 ON TRAINING PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION WE CONTINUED
TO SUPPORT LABOR RELATED PROJECTS SUCH AS THE TECHNICAL
EDUCATION PROJECT FOR INDONESIA.
DELEGATES, I HAVE SPOKEN OF THE PRO13LEMS OF YOUTH
UNEMPLOYMENT IN OUR REGION AND MY GOVERNMENT'S PRIORITY
ONE STRATEGY. IN THIS TIME OF DOUBT AND UNCERTAINTY IN
WHICH WE LIVE, MANY OF OUR YOUNG MAY COME TO REJECT THE
VALUES OF THE COMMUNITY IF THE COMMUNITY IN TURN DOES
NOT ACCEPT ITS OBLIGATIONS TO THEM. WE NEED TO KNOW AND
TO RESPOND TO THE CONCERNS OF THE YOUNG. MY
GOVERNMENT'S APPROACH DRAWING ON THE PRINCIPLES OF
TRIPARTISM WHICH ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO THE WORK OF THE
I. L. O. IS AIMED AT MEETING THE CONCERNS AND NEEDS OF
OUR YOUNG. I COMMEND THIS APPROACH ANDI OUR POLICIES TO
THE CONFERENCE.
IN CLOSING I WOULD EMPHASISE THE APPROPRIATENESS OF
THIS, INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR, FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE
THEMES OF THIS CONFERENCE OF YOUTH AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION.
THESE ARE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES THAT, ADDRESSED
IN A CO-OPERATIVE SPIRIT, OFFER THE POSSIBILITY OF
ASSISTING ALL PEOPLE OF THE WORLD PARTICULARLY THE
YOUNG, TO ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND THAT OF THEIR
NATIONS. THANK YOU. S. r
C~ i~ ~ l~ rerDI-~ D-L ~ PI)~ YMI i~ r-I