EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER
YOUTH AFFAIRS ASSEMBLY
MELBOURNE 7 FEBRUARY 1986
THIS YOUTH AFFAIRS ASSEMBLY, AND THE GOVERNMENT WHICH I
LEAD, HAVE BEFORE US ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX
TASKS FACING ANY NATION TODAY. AND THAT IS THE CREATION OF
A WORTHWHILE FUTURE FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. IT IS A DAUNTING
AND A DIFFICULT TASK. BUT IT IS ALSO A TASK ON WHICH, I AM
GLAD TO SAY, WE HAVE ALREADY MADE A SOLID START.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE ATTENDED A YACA MEETING. THE
FIRST TIME I DID SO, IN DECEMBER 1982, I WAS SHADOW MINISTER
FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS. IT IS CERTAINLY A MUCH MORE REWARDING
FEELING TO BE ADDRESSING YOU THIS TIME AS PRIME MINISTER OF
A REJUVENATED NATION ALREADY WITH A BLUE PRINT BEFORE US FOR
TACKLING THE MYRIAD PROBLEMS OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
IT IS ALSO GRATIFYING THAT I CAN SPEAK TO YOU AT A TIME WHEN
PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SO
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED ON THOSE WHICH APPLIED AT THE END OF
1982. THAT PERIOD MARKED THE DEPTHS OF THE WORST RECESSION
SINCE THE 1930S. IT WAS CHARACTERISED BY A PARTICULARLY
BLEAK OUTLOOK FOR THE YOUTH OF AUSTRALIA.
IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT THE YOUTH AFFAIRS COUNCIL SHOULD BE
CONDUCTING THIS ASSEMBLY NOW, AT THIS IMPORTANT STAGE IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF OUR STRATEGY FOR DEALING WITH THESE PROBLEMS.
I CONGRATULATE YACA ON ITS INITIATIVE. IN THE SIX AND A
HALF YEARS SINCE YACA TOOK ITS PRESENT FORM, IT HAS PROVEN
TO BE AN EFFECTIVE VEHICLE FOR REPRESENTING THE VIEWS OF
YOUNG PEOPLE AND THOSE CONCERNED WITH YOUTH AFFAIRS, AND FOR
CARRYING THEIR VIEWS TO GOVERNMENT.
I HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED BY THE QUALITY OF YACA'S WORK OVER THE
PAST THREE YEARS AND WITH THE COMMITMENT OF THE PEOPLE
INVOLVED IN YOUR ACTIVITIES.
I SAID A MOMENT AGO THAT IT IS ESPECIALLY REWARDING TO SPEAK
TO YOU NOW, AT A TIME WHEN THE OUTLOOK FOR YOUNG PEOPLE HAS
IMPROVED MARKEDLY.
THAT IMPROVEMENT PARTLY REFLECTS THE GENERAL IMPROVEMENT IN
THE AUSTRALIAN ECONOMY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND IS
PARTLY BECAUSE OF OUR PRIORITY ONE STRATEGY.
PRIORITY ONE REPRESENTS THE FIRST ATTEMPT BY AN AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS THE MANY ISSUES FACING THE YOUTH OF
THIS COUNTRY IN A CO-ORDINATED AND COMPREHENSIVE MANNER. WE
WANT YOU AND ALL YOUNG AUSTRALIANS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE
REVIEW AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE STRATEGY.
PRIORITY ONE COMPLEMENTS OUR GENERAL ECONOMIC POLICIES WHICH
HAVE PRODUCED RECORD GROWTH IN EMPLOYMENT. IN CONTRAST YOU
HAVE THE INTELLECTUAL BARRENNESS OF THE OPPOSITION'S
APPROACH, BASED LARGELY ON SIMPLY CUTTING YOUNG PEOPLE'S
WAGES. IN THE TWO-YEARS UP TO MAY 1983, YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
FELL BY 143,000. RIGHT NOW, THOUGH, WE SEE STRONG GROWTH IN
EMPLOYMENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE ENTIRE LABOUR MARKET.
SINCE WE CAME TO OFFICE MORE THAN 540,000 NEW JOBS HAVE BEEN
CREATED WITH OVER 100,000 OF THESE BEING TAKEN UP BY YOUNG
PEOPLE. IN CONTRAST TO 1982, YOUNG AUSTRALIANS NOW HAVE A
FUTURE WITH HOPE AND CONFIDENCE.
OUR PRIORITY ONE PROGRAM IS THE OUTCOME OF THREE YEARS OF
CONCENTRATED WORK BY THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE INVOLVED IN
YOUTH AFFAIRS. YACA, IN PARTICULAR, HAS PLAYED AN
INVALUABLE ROLE IN FACILITATING CONSULTATION BETWEEN YOUNG
PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNMENT. THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE
GAINED FROM YACA, TOGETHER WITH STUDIES AND INQUIRIES SUCH
AS THOSE BY THE OECD EXPERT TEAM, ANOP AND THE KIRBY
COMMITTEE, PROVIDED THE BASIS FOR THE PRIORITY ONE STRATEGY.
I OUTLINED ITS MAJOR COMPONENTS IN MY ADDRESS TO THE NATION
ON 18 AUGUST LAST YEAR.
THE SIZE OF THE TASK WHICH WE HAVE BEFORE US IN MEETING THE
NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE CAN BE SEEN BY THE RANGE OF ISSUES
ADDRESSED IN PRIORITY ONE. WHILE THE THREE CENTRAL ELEMENTS
OF THE STRATEGY ARE CONCERNED WITH EDUCATION AND TRAINING,
EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME SUPPORT, OTHER INITIATIVES ARE JUST AS
IMPORTANT. THESE INCLUDE IMPROVING THE CO-ORDINATION AND
PROVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL; A
SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT TO THE CYSS; BETTER AND MORE PUBLIC
HOUSING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE; A VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY SERVICE
SCHEME; AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIALISED YOUTH CENTRES
WITHIN CES OFFICES.
THROUGH THE YOUTH SERVICES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WE WILL BE
FUNDING A NUMBER OF PILOT PROJECTS, INCLUDING INFORMATION
AND REFERRAL SERVICES IN AREAS WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE TEND TO
GATHER, SUCH AS MAJOR SHOPPING CENTRES. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING
AT WAYS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN
I SOLATED AREAS.
THE IYY CEP DEVELOPMENT PROJECT HAS FOCUSED ON SPECIFIC
GROUPS OF YOUNG AUSTRALIANS, IN PARTICULAR THOSE IN ISOLATED
AREAS, AS WELL AS YOUNG WOMEN, YOUNG ABORIGINALS, YOUNG
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND YOUNG ETHNIC PEOPLE. THIS
PROJECT RAS SHOWN JUST WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE CAN DO WHEN GIVEN
THE CHANCE. WHILE THE PROJECT ENDS NEXT MONTH, THE NETWORKS
IT ESTABLISHED WILL FLOURISH, AND MANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS
WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE SPONSORING ORGANISATIONS.
THE IMPORTANCE THE GOVERNMENT PLACES ON YOUNG PEOPLE IS
DOMONSTRATED BY THE FACT THAT, AT A TIME OF CONSIDERABLE
SPENDING RESTRAINT, OUR GREATEST INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE IS
ON YOUTH POLICIES.
PRIORITY ONE IS OUR LONG-TERM STRATEGY FOR AUSTRALIA'S
YOUTH, WITH ITS FULL IMPACT TO BE FELT IN TWO TO THREE
YEARS, WHEN THE MAJOR CHANGES TO THE EXISTING EDUCATION,
TRAINING AND INCOME SUPPORT SYSTEMS TAKE FULL EFFECT.
PRIORITY ONE IS NOT AN OVERNIGHT, ONE DAY WONDER SCHEME. IT
IS A CO-ORDINATED AND INTEGRATED PROGRAM TO TACKLE THE MANY
PROBLEMS WHICH YOUNG PEOPLE FACE, IN WAYS THAT ARE RELEVANT
TO THEM AND WHICH GIVE ALL YOUNG AUSTRALIANS A CHANCE TO
INFLUENCE ITS IMPLEMENTATION.
IT IS ABOUT ENABLING YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE BETTER EQUIPPED SO
THAT THEIR SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES ARE BETTER TAILORED TO
MEET THE DEMANDS OF A RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD. IN THE
RESULT, NOT ONLY WILL YOUNG PEOPLE BENEFIT, BUT ALL OF
AUSTRALIA WILL BENEFIT FROM A MORE CAPABLE AND SKILFUL
POPULATION. PRIORITY ONE WAS NEVER A PROGRAM WHICH COULD BE IMPLEMENTED
AT THE FLICK OF OUR FINGERS OR WITHOUT THE TEETHING PROBLEMS
WHICH ACCOMPANY ALL NEW GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES, PARTICULARLY
THOSE AS COMPLEX AS THIS VITAL SCHEME.
AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE AUSTRALIAN TRAINEESHIP SCHEME, A
KEY ELEMENT OF PRIORITY ONE AND ONE WHICH HAS RIGHTLY
RECEIVED MUCH ATTENTION. TRAINEESHIPS ARE A BOLD, AND
RADICAL PROGRAM PROVIDING A NEW OPTION FOR THOSE FACING THE
TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO WORK.
RECENTLY, THE KNOCKERS AND THE DOUBTERS HAVE EMERGED TO TRY
TO UNDERMINE THIS IMPORTANT SCHEME THAT OFFERS REAL HOPE TO
MANY THOUSANDS OF YOUNG AUSTRALIANS.
SO, IN ANSWER TO THEM LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR THE AUSTRALIAN
TRAINEESHIP SCHEME IS GOING AHEAD AND IT IS DOING SO WITH
THE SUPPORT AND COOPERATION OF MAJOR SECTIONS OF THE TRADE
UNION MOVEMENT AND THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS THAT IT MAY HAVE
SET AN OVER-AMBITIOUS TARGET FOR ITSELF IN AIMING TO CREATE
10,000 TRAINEESHIPS BY JULY OF THIS YEAR.
HOWEVER, WE REMAIN OPTIMISTIC THAT BOTH THIS TARGET AND THE
LONG TERM GOAL OF 75,000 TRAINEESHIPS BY 1988-89 CAN BE
ACHIEVED. BUT IF WE DO FALL SHORT ON THE IMMEDIATE TARGET IT WILL NOT
BE BECAUSE OF LACK OF EFFORT OR COMMITMENT. WE ARE
ESTABLISHING A NEW, HIGH QUALITY SYSTEM OF VOCATIONAL
TRAINING, REQUIRING FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES IN ATTITUDE TO
TRAINING BY THE COMMUNITY, BY EMPLOYERS, TRADE UNIONS,
GOVERNMENT AND YOUNG PEOPLE THEMSELVES. THAT CANNOT BE DONE
OVERNIGHT AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO SELL YOUNG AUSTRALIANS
SHORT IN A SCRAMBLE TO ARTIFICIALLY MEET OUR TARGETS.
TRAINEESHIPS REMAIN A VITAL INITIATIVE. OUR COMMITMENT TO
THE SCHEME IS TOTAL.
PRIORITY ONE IS A BROAD AND A DYNAMIC PROGRAM. SO IT'S ONLY
NATURAL THAT SOME FINE TUNING MAY BE REQUIRED. THIS IS WHY
I MADE MY COMMITMENT TO CONSULT WITH YOUNG AUSTRALIANS ON
ALL ASPECTS OF THE STRATEGY.
THIS COMMITMENT TO FIND OUT DIRECTLY YOUNG PEOPLE'S CONCERNS
AND IDEAS WAS THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THE NATIONAL YOUTH
PHONE-IN AND THE TALKBACK RADIO PROGRAMS WHICH I
PARTICIPATED IN AT THE END OF LAST YEAR. I SPOKE PERSONALLY
WITH ABOUT 120 YOUNG PEOPLE WHO CALLED IN DURING MY RADIO
PROGRAMS AROUND AUSTRALIA. IN ALL, WE RECEIVED ABOUT 26,000
CALLS THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM WITH POSITIVE AND
CONSTRUCTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO MAKE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR
POLICIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE PHONE-IN AND THE RADIO PROGRAMS WERE A TREMENDOUSLY
WORTHWHILE EXERCISE.
IT WAS NEVER A MARKET RESEARCH EXERCISE INTENDED PURELY TO
GAUGE PUBLIC OPINION; IT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED TO PROVIDE A
CONDUIT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE INTO GOVERNMENT, TO COMMUNICATE
THEIR INDIVIDUAL FEELINGS AND ESPECIALLY THEIR POSITIVE
IDEAS ABOUT THE VARIOUS ISSUES WHICH CONCERN THEM.
YOUNG PEOPLE MAKE UP A VITAL SECTION OF THE AUSTRALIAN
COMMUNITY. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN IDEAS AND PERSPECTIVES ON
LIFE AND ON VARIOUS ISSUES. WE WANT THE VIEWS OF YOUNG
AUSTRALIANS TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF
AUSTRALIAN LIFE. YOUNG PEOPLE REPRESENT OUR FUTURE. THEY
SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO INFLUENCE THAT FUTURE AND THEIR OWN
DESTINIES. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ABOUT.
THE PHONE-IN WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT A GOVERNMENT HAS
UNDERTAKEN DIRECT CONSULTATION WITH A SECTOR OF THE
POPULATION. IT WAS A REMARKABLE EXPERIMENT AND I WAS VERY
IMPRESSED BY THE KEEN RESPONSE FROM AN EXTRAORDINARY RANGE
OF YOUNG AUSTRALIANS.
AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DIRECT PARTICIPATION BY YOUNG
AUSTRALIANS, THE PHONE-IN WAS ALSO A FITTING CULMINATION TO
INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR.
ALTHOUGH I SPOKE WITH ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF THESE WHO
CALLED IN, I LEARNT MUCH FROM THEIR IDEAS.
FROM EARLY ANALYSIS OF THE PHONE-IN CALLS SOME MAJOR THEMES
ARE ALREADY APPARENT. SOME SPECIFIC PROPOSALS FOR POLICY
DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION ARE EMERGING. I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT SOME OF THESE THEMES NOW, ALTHOUGH THE OVERALL REPORT
ON THE PHONE-IN, BY THE OFFICE OF YOUTH AFFAIRS WITH IN MY
DEPARTMENT, IS STILL BEING FINALISED.
IN PERHAPS THE MOST BASIC TERMS, THOSE WHO CALLED INTO THE
PHONE-IN WERE SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR IDENTITY AND THE
SEARCH FOR A PLACE IN OUR NATION.
THIS THEME MANIFESTED ITSELF IN SO MANY OF THE ISSUES THEY
RAISED, FROM:
THE SEARCH FOR WORK AND DIGNITY, WHICH REMAINS THE
CENTRAL CONCERN OF YOUNG AUSTRALIANS; TO
THE DESIRE TO GIVE AND BE GIVEN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL FACETS OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL
LIFE, TO ALLOW THEM TO BETTER TAKE THEIR PART IN OUR
COMMlUNITY; TO
THE VEXING PROBLEMS OF AGE-RELATED RIGHTS AND
PRIVILEGES; THE CONTENT AND PURPOSE OF EDUCATION, AND ACCESS TO IT
AT TERTIARY LEVEL;
THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT;
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER NATIONS AND CULTURAL GROUPS;
THE USE AND ABUSE OF DRUGS; AND
INCOME SUPPORT AND INDEED THE WHOLE RANGE OF ISSUES
ABOUT WHICH YOU AS YOUNG PEOPLE AND WORKERS WITH YOUNG
PEOPLE KNOW ALL TOO WELL.
ALREADY WE ARE LOOKING SERIOUSLY AT SOME SPECIFIC POLICY
IDEAS ON A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES WHICH EMERGED FROM THE
PHONE-IN. THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE WORKING WITH YACA,
PARTICULARLY, ON WAYS THAT THESE CAN BE DEVELOPED. SOME
IDEAS ARE FOR IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION BY THE GOVERNMENT,
OTHERS CAN BE DEVELOPED OVER TIME BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
AND ALSO BY THE STATES, COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS AND THE
PRIVATE SECTOR.
THE INITIAL IDEAS THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING COME TOGETHER
UNDER THE FOLLOWING THEMES. THESE ARE:
FIRSTLY: THE PARTICIPATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT
A LARGE NUMBER OF CALLERS WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT, AND
WANTED YOUTH TO PARTICIPATE MORE DIRECTLY IN THE POLITICAL
PROCESSES IN AUSTRALIA. SUGGESTIONS ALONG THESE LINES TOOK
A NUMBER OF FORMS, AND IDEAS WE ARE LOOKING AT INCLUDE:
A NON-PARTISAN PROGRAM OF VOTER EDUCATION FOR SCHOOLS
COVERING AUSTRALIA'S POLITICAL AND ELECTORAL STRUCTURES;
THE CREATION OF WIDER OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN
SECONDARY EDUCATION TO WITNESS AT FIRST-HAND THE
PARLIAMENTARY AND DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES OF
GOVERNMENT; AND
ESTABLISHING BETTER METHODS FOR INFORMING YOUNG PEOPLE
IN A NON-PARTISAN WAY ABOUT ISSUES SUCH AS FOREIGN
POLICY AND CONSERVATION.
THESE IDEAS ARE BEING PURSUED BECAUSE WE RECOGNISE THAT
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE OF MAKING A FAR GREATER
CONTRIBUTION TO THE AFFAIRS OF THE COUNTRY. THE PROSPECTS
FOR THIS WOULD BE ENHANCED CONSIDERABLY BY A WIDER
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE PROCESSES WORK.
SECONDLY: YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN THE COMMUNITY
ANOTHER STRONG VIEW EXPRESSED THROUGH THE PHONE-IN WAS THAT
YOUNG PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE A FAR MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN THE
COMMUNITY AT LARGE. THERE ARE MANY AGE-RELATED DEMANDS AND
RESTRICTIONS THAT IMPINGE ON YOUNG PEOPLE. WE ARE
CONSIDERING INITIATIVES INCLUDING:
ASKING YACA AND THE INSTITUTE OF FAMILY STUDIES IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE OFFICE OF YOUTH AFFAIRS, TO
LOOK INTO THE TRANSITIONAL STATUS OF YOUNG PEOPLE,
INCLUDING MATTERS SUCH AS:
THE OFTEN CONTRADICTORY LEGAL RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF YOUNG PEOPLE;
STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATION POLICY
DEVELOPMENT WITHIN SCHOOLS; AND
RECOGNISING THE CONTRIBUTION YOUNG PEOPLE MAKE
TO OUR SOCIETY UNDER A YOUTH ACHIEVER AWARD.
THIRDLY: EMPLOYMENT
IT IS NO SURPRISE TO LEARN THAT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
CONCERNS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IS FINDING AND KEEPING A JOB. SOME
OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT WE WILL BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING
ARE:
EXPANDING EXISTING WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS FOR
SECONDARY STUDENTS, SO MORE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN GAIN
EXPERIENCE IN A WIDER RANGE OF JOBS;
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL TABLOID NEWS-SHEET CONTAINING
INFORMATION ABOUT JOB VACANCIES IN ALL STATES, WITH
OCCASIONAL ARTICLES PROVIDING INFORMATION AND ADVICE FOR
THE UNEMPLOYED;
ESTABLISHING A TOLL FREE 008 TELEPHONE INFORMATION
SERVICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN REMOTE
AREAS. IMPORTANTLY, UNDER PRIORITY ONE, THE
COMMONWEALTH DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS NOW TRIALLING
SUCH A SERVICE IN TASMANIA; AND
PROVIDING MORE HELP FOR YOUNG PEOPLE LOOKING FOR WORK,
THROUGH EXPANDING THE NEW CES YOUTH ACCESS CENTRES AND
PROVIDING INCREASED FARES ASSISTANCE FOR UNEMPLOYED
PEOPLE TO ATTEND JOB INTERVIEWS.
I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT YESTERDAY THE FIRST 6 ACCESS
CENTRES WERE LAUNCHED AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW
STRATEGY TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF SERVICES FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
FOURTH: PROGRAMS TO COUNTER RACISM
FROM THE PHONE-IN, IT IS APPARENT THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF
YOUNG AUSTRALIANS ARE CONCERNED THAT RACIST ATTITUDES MAR
OUR SOCIETY. SOME IDEAS INCLUDE:
A COKPREHENSIVE NATIONAL EDUCATION CAMPAIGN EMPHASISING
THE BENEFITS TO AUSTRALIA OF A DIVERSE NATIONAL
HERITAGE; REPRESENTATIVES OF ETHNIC GROUPS TALKING TO SCHOOL
GROUPS ABOUT THEMSELVES AND THEIR CULTURE THIS IDEA
CAME DIRECT TO ME ON AIR FROM KATEY IN PERTH; THE IDEA
WOULD BE TO GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF
THE HERITAGE AND CULTURE OF ETHNIC GROUPS DIFFERENT FROM
THEIR OWN; AND
RECOGNISING THE BENEFITS OF BILINGUALISM IN APPROPRIATE
AREAS, SUCH AS INDUSTRIAL AWARDS.
FIFTH: DRUG EDUCATION
YOUNG AUSTRALIANS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECTS THAT
DRUGS INCLUDING TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL HAVE ON PEOPLE. AND
THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW DRUG EDUCATION IS PRESENTED.
IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE NATIONAL DRUG EDUCATION PROGRAM, WE
ARE LOOKING AT NEW AND MORE EFFECTIVE METHODS.
THERE WAS A FEELING FROM THE PHONE-IN THAT ANTI-DRUG
CAMPAIGNS SHOULD RELATE MORE CLOSELY TO YOUNG PEOPLE,' AND
THAT ONE WAY OF DOING THIS WOULD BE TO BRING YOUNG PEOPLE
INTO CLOSER CONTACT WITH THE EFFECTS OF DRUGS, FOR EXAMPLE
ENABLING THEM TO TALK WITH THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE
HORRORS OF DRUG ADDICTION.
SIXTH: INCOME SUPPORT
THE MESSAGE CAME THROUGH VERY CLEARLY THAT MANY YOUNG PEOPLE
ARE NOT AWARE OF THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WE ARE MAKING TO
INCOME SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. THE COSTS OF
THESE REFORMS WILL RISE TO $ 250 MILLION WHEN FULLY
IMPLEMENTED IN 1988-89.
THE KEY TO OUR INCOME SUPPORT REFORMS IS TO REMOVE THE GAP
BETWEEN EDUCATION ALLOWANCES AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT.
IT WILL REMOVE WHAT HAS BEEN, IN EFFECT, A FINANCIAL PENALTY
FOR YOUNG UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE WHO WISH TO RETURN TO STUDY AND
IT WILL ELIMINATE THE DISINCENTIVE TO STUDY.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUNG PEOPLE FULLY UNDERSTAND THE
DETAILS OF THE IMPROVED SYSTEM OF ALLOWANCES SO THAT THEY
CAN BE AWARE OF THEIR FULL ENTITLEMENTS. THIS WILL ASSIST
PLANNING FOR THEIR EDUCATION AND THEIR ENTRY INTO THE LABOUR
MARKET, RATHER THAN HAVING SUCH DECISIONS FORCED UPON THEM
BY FINANCIAL NECESSITY.
WHEN WE BECAME THE GOVERNMENT IN 1983, WE INHERITED A SYSTEM
OF INCOME SUPPORT ARISING OUT OF AD HOC RESPONSES TO
PARTICULAR ISSUES. THERE WAS NO PARTICULAR RATIONALITY OR
INTEGRATION TO THE SYSTEM.
THE CHANGES THAT WE ARE MAKING WILL BE PHASED IN OVER THE
NEXT THREE YEARS. COLLECTIVELY, THEY WILL PRODUCE A MORE
COHERENT AND SIMPLE SYSTEM WITH GREATER COVERAGE, MORE
ADEQUATE LEVELS OF PAYMENT, AND THEY WILL REDUCE OR
ELIMINATE FINANCIAL IMPEDIMENTS TO STUDY FOR THOSE IN NEED.
I HAVE ASKED THOSE DEPARTMENTS WHICH ADMINISTER INCOME
SUPPORT PROVISIONS, PARTICULARLY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY, TO REDOUBLE THEIR
EFFORTS TO EXPLAIN THE CHANGES TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH WHOM
THEY HAVE CONTACT.
I STATE QUITE CATEGORICALLY THAT NO YOUNG PERSON WILL
RECEIVE LESS MONEY UNDER THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS COMPARED WITH
THE OLD SYSTEM. IN FACT, MANY WILL RECEIVE INCREASED
ALLOWANCES AND A LARGE NUMBER WILL BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR
BENEFITS FOR THE FIRST TIME.
THESE ARE ONLY SOME OF THE IDEAS ARISING FROM THE NATIONAL
YOUTH PHONE-IN. FURTHER WORK WILL BE DONE ON THE GATHERED
MATERIAL TO REFINE AND DEVELOP PRIORITY ONE AND TO BUILD ON
THE INITIATIVES AND PROGRESS MADE DURING IYY.
IN THE YEARS LEADING FROM IYY TO THE BICENTENNIAL THE
YEARS MY MINISTER ASSISTING, JOHN DAWKINS, HAS REFERRED TO
AS 3YY OR THREE YEARS FOR YOUTH WE WANT YOUNG PEOPLE TO
MAINTAIN THEIR ENTHUSIASM FOR WORKING TOWARDS CONSTRUCTIVE
CHANGE IN OUR SOCIETY. CONSEQUENTLY, THE SORTS OF PROJECTS
AND INITIATIVES THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE LOOKING AT MOST
CLOSELY WILL BE THOSE THAT MAXIMIZE THE PARTICIPATION OF
YOUNG PEOPLE AND HAVE RELEVANCE TO THEIR FUTURE.
9.
THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH YACA BOTH
IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE IDEAS WHICH WERE PUT FORWARD
THROUGH THE PHONE-IN AND IN FURTHER CONSULTATION WITH YOUNG
PEOPLE ON WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING AND ON WHAT IT SHOULD
BE DOING.
WHEN I WAS INVITED TO SPEAK AT THIS ASSEMBLY, I WAS PLEASED
TO NOTE THE BREADTH AND RANGE OF ISSUES TO BE CANVASSED.
IN THIS CONTEXT, I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YACA AFTER
THE ASSEMBLY ABOUT YOUR IDEAS AND VIEWS. THIS WILL HELP ALL
OF US WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE
COUNTRY TO ASSIST THEM IN THE WAYS THEY WANT AND IN THE WAYS
THEY NEED.
I WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR WORK THIS WEEKEND AND IN THE FUTURE.
I AM PLEASED TO DECLARE THE ASSEMBLY OFFICIALLY OPEN.