Page 196 - Week 02 - Thursday, 25 May 1989
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Hence it is apparent that specific income measures are required to alleviate the problems of women in poverty. As Minister with responsibility for the ACT women's employment strategy, I anticipate announcing in the near future the following initiatives:
The formation of a task force to advise on the development and implementation of an ACT women's employment strategy. Representation on the committee will reflect my Government's commitment to tripartite and community consultative mechanisms.
Initiatives to promote women in small business.
The targeting of apprenticeship positions within the ACT Administration - within our own backyard.
A project to research needs of women in the Tuggeranong region who wish to re-enter the paid labour market.
A pilot program to promote awareness of the needs of women among employers and unions. This is important because I want to ensure that the significant changes occurring in the workplace under award restructuring give due emphasis to those areas of the labour market where women currently predominate.
An outreach program designed to increase the training and employment opportunities of women who are currently not in the labour market or have little attachment to it.
Our Government views the ACT women's employment strategy as part of its commitment to promoting social justice and as an essential element in its plans for economic growth and development in the ACT. The improvement of women's employment status in the ACT is critical to our social justice and employment policies, but it is too important to be left to Ministers. In that regard, I welcome the initiative of the Trades and Labour Council with its research report on women in apprenticeships. I hope that this will be matched with firm and practical steps by private sector employers. For my part I will be ensuring that ACT education institutions play a positive role, and have already taken action to upgrade my department's own performance in this area.
MR BERRY (Minister for Community Services and Health) (3.48): I would like first of all, Mr Speaker, to address a couple of issues which were touched on by other members in this debate. Mr Kaine raised the issue of aged women. It is well known that the numbers of aged single women far and away exceed the numbers of men in that category. From our point of view it is important to address the issue of women in the aged sector.
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