Page 3441 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 25 November 1992
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ACTEW - Employment Policy
MR MOORE: Madam Speaker, my question is directed to Mr Connolly as Minister for Urban Services. Does ACTEW have an affirmative action policy or do its recent advertisements targeting only school leavers represent an ad hoc approach which appears to breach discrimination laws?
MR CONNOLLY: ACTEW in general has the same policy as the rest of the ACT Government, which is equal employment opportunity. They have recently advertised for eight apprentices and they have targeted those advertisements to school leavers. The decision to employ eight apprentices was taken by the ACTEW board really as a service to the community, as opposed to meeting an industrial need that they have. ACTEW, frankly, do not have an urgent need to take on an additional eight apprentices, but they have always regarded themselves as a responsible part of the ACT economy. ACTEW for years has taken on more apprentices than it actually needs. Many of those do not continue with ACTEW in the long term; they go into the private sector. Many of the electricians who currently work in the private sector got their initial trade training through ACTEW. Given the current state of youth unemployment in the ACT - a matter with which the Government is concerned and on which the Chief Minister has repeatedly spoken - ACTEW made a decision that they would take on eight additional apprentices and they did target the advertisements at school leavers.
There have been some concerns raised by older people that this may be discriminatory. I have had some communication with the ACT Human Rights Office, who advised me that yes, this probably is discriminatory. We do not have at the moment specific age discrimination legislation in the Territory; but it is something that the Government has clearly indicated its intention to move on, and it is a matter that I will discuss with the ACTEW board with a view to ensuring that all the applications that have been received are dealt with on merit. Clearly, the intention of ACTEW in advertising for eight apprentices was to act as a responsible corporate citizen and provide training opportunities for Canberra's young people. The way the advertisements were placed has perhaps been unfortunate if it has given the impression of discrimination, and I will speak to ACTEW management to ensure that everyone's application is considered on its merits.
Public Sector Productivity
MR DE DOMENICO: Madam Speaker, my question without notice is to the Minister for Industrial Relations, Mr Berry. First of all, I remind the Minister that, in answer to a question from Mr Kaine, Ms Follett referred this afternoon, when talking about public servants, to salary increases linked to productivity and performance improvement. Mr Berry, I refer to comments made last night by a Mr Trevor Santi - someone you and Mr Connolly especially should know very well - who said, "The only way to improve productivity is for the Government to first agree to higher wages". Mr Berry, does the Government share Mr Santi's sentiment? If it does not, what other measures does the Minister advocate to improve productivity in the public sector?
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