Page 431 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 27 June 1989
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Although there are distinguished exceptions, women continue to be deterred from entering careers with science and technological prerequisites. These barriers that they must overcome stem from community attitudes. These attitudes have been instilled in us from an early age, going back to primary school level. I feel this is one area where we really have to start to work on attitudes within our schools. This is one reason why there are still very few girls taking up apprenticeships outside of hairdressing.
Although the situation is beginning to change slowly, the need to redress the situation has been recognised, and a very successful tradeswoman on the move project was conducted last year. The project, I believe, will be repeated this year, and I hope that it will encourage a larger number of girls to take up apprenticeships in non-traditional areas.
Another major source of disadvantage in access to employment is language deficiencies. 1990 has been named International Literacy Year, and the opportunity should not be missed for a concerted attack on the problem of illiteracy in the community. This would involve a concerted effort requiring collaboration by employees, unions, educational institutions and a range of bodies. I believe the ACT Education and Training Council has established an ACT coordinating committee to develop planning for the ACT activities in support of the objectives of the year.
I also feel it is important that girls should not be barred from access to career structures at various levels. The establishment of a vocational training authority will ensure that, through award restructuring, apprenticeships and traineeships, the entry level on the career ladder will extend from career entry to professional levels. The establishment of a vocational training authority will focus attention on equity objectives in access to employment and will contribute to the achievement of a just and humane society in the ACT.
MR WHALAN (Minister for Industry, Employment and Education) (4.33), in reply: Mr Speaker, the arrangement of officials during debates of this sort is particularly difficult when we are physically separated to this extent in communicating, and I would urge you that we reconsider a more appropriate arrangement. I suggest the more appropriate arrangement is that the Minister who is responsible for the legislation that is going through might temporarily occupy this table so that the table can be brought into a straight juxtaposition because, particularly when we go into the detail stage of debate, Ministers necessarily require some briefing throughout that process. I would like to discuss that further with you, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: I take your point, Minister. We have sought advice from the house on the hill. It seems to manage with a distance similar to this or greater in that area. With
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