PM Transcripts

EMBARGOED: 6.30 p. m. , JJJ AUSTRALIA~ j
FOR PRESS 3HA 26 Sep temiber 1976
3YB 30 September 1976
ELECTORAL TALK
A number of significant det. isions that effect the training and
employment of thousands of Australians were made by the Federal
Government this week.
These decisions are in line wi ' ththe Government's commitment to
expand emp-loyment incentives for manufacturers and businessmen.
They also illh::. strate the Government's real concern about
unemployment particularly among the young.
First, employers are now# Thffered a $ 58 a week subsidy to train
last year's unemployed school leavers.
This ' on the job' training subsidy for private employers and
public authorities is considerably greater than the normal
subsidy payable for young people under the national employment
and training scheme.
Young people will qualify for training if they are between 15 and
19 years old, have left school in the preceeding year and have
registered with the Commonwealth Employment Service for six months.
A special feature of the programme is that it provides for a
training plan to be devised for each person. This will be tailored
to overcome their particular employment problems and will guide
their training on the job.
The Governpment shortly will announce details of how and when
young people can apply. Further information will also be available
from Commonwealth Employment Service offices.
This measure is an important initiative that reflects our genuine
concern for the short and long term effects of unemploymentparticularly
for young people.
This week the Government also announced a number of improvements
in the national employment and training scheme.
Broadly, the scheme has been reformed in three main areas: I
allowances for in-plant training and living away from home have
been substantially increased; trainees, carrying out formal courses
on a full time basis will in future be able to increase their
earnings without affecting their allow ances. And finally, gr-aater
opportunities will be availahle for part time training. Trhis
initiative will be of considerable assistance to married women
who are unable to take on full time training beca,: use of familyI
responsibilities. 1