Page 1254 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 16 April 1991
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turned to other uses. Some of those schools will be used for community purposes. With the others, where the property is not required for further government use the land will be used for other purposes. Of course, before that can be done, it is necessary that we go through a process of varying the land use purpose and the Territory Planning Authority has been instructed - in fact, I have instructed it - to process the normal variation proposals. In contradistinction to the hares that have been set running by the Opposition, there is no fast tracking; these variation proposals are being processed in the normal way and in the normal time frame, and when that process has been completed the land will be turned to other uses in accordance with the Government's proposals.
Mr Speaker, I would just like to note that the Opposition seems very interested in this. I might make the point that the properties of the schools that were disposed of by the Commonwealth before self-government remained there untouched and undisturbed during the Labor Government's office here. It did nothing either to reopen them or to use the land and the buildings for other purposes. In fact, it was left to this Government to turn those vacant and vandalised properties to good use. So, I think that the members opposite ought to be very careful before they start throwing stones when they live in glass houses.
Labour Force Statistics
MRS NOLAN: Mr Speaker, my question is also to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, what are the major developments in the ACT labour market as shown in the March 1991 labour force statistics, and how does the ACT compare with the national trends?
MR KAINE: Mr Speaker, I am pleased that the member has sought to get some information and some clarification of the figures that have been released, because the labour force statistics that were released last week show unequivocally that the unemployment rate for the ACT continues to fall. This compares favourably, of course, with the national situation where the rate continues to rise. The unemployment rate in the ACT fell to 5.7 per cent in March. It was 7.7 per cent in February and 8.1 per cent in January. This contrasts with the national situation where the unemployment rates increased during that same period. They were 9.6 per cent in March, 9.5 per cent in February and 9.1 per cent in January. So, unemployment in the ACT continues to be much lower than in every other State or Territory in Australia.
Most importantly, Mr Speaker, although it is good to see the unemployment figures reducing, it is worth noting that employment continues to grow in the ACT as well. Already in the first three quarters of this financial year, 3,700 new jobs have been created and it is worth noting, I think,
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