Page 505 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 21 February 2018
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MR RAMSAY: I thank Mr Pettersson for the supplementary question. I would be delighted to provide this because we have obtained some very useful data. It shows that the ACT public service has attracted veterans from all three services of the ADF. They are spread across all areas of public service, with the largest numbers working in JACS, Education and CMTED, filling a wide variety of positions including health professionals, teachers, emergency services personnel and IT professionals.
We have also attracted veterans who have served only a handful of years, right through to those who have served for 20 years or more. Interestingly, around 31 per cent of respondents were female, which is much higher than the proportion of women currently in the Defence Force which is around 17 per cent.
What the survey did point out is that we have some way to go in bridging the language gap between defence and civilian skill sets, with only 18 per cent of respondents finding it easy to translate their ADF skills and explain them to a civilian employing agency when they applied for a job. It is for this reason that we are working with the Department of Defence to help bridge the gap and to aid transitioning Defence Force members in better explaining their training and their skill sets.
MS ORR: Can the minister advise why it is important that we help Defence Force members transition to civilian life, including employment in the ACT?
MR RAMSAY: I thank Ms Orr for the supplementary question. Members of the ADF are some of the most highly trained and skilled workers available. Veterans have some significant training to be leaders in a wide variety of fields, often having to perform complex and often technical roles under intense pressure. They have a strong sense of service to their country, which is very compatible with public service values. We want to set up the public service to be a model employer of veterans. We also want to encourage the private sector to do the same.
We understand that the average age of separation from the Defence Force is around 31 years. These veterans have the potential to go on to apply the training and experience that they have received through the Australian Defence Force to the benefit of the local economy and community for their remaining decades of employment.
Assisting veterans to transition to civilian employment will provide a boost to the ACT’s skilled workforce and will provide an overall net benefit to the ACT economy. Connecting and supporting veterans into compatible civilian roles not only makes good policy, it also makes very good sense.
Ministers—code of conduct
MR HANSON: My question is to the Chief Minister. The latest ministerial code of conduct dates from 2012. Why has the ACT government not updated the ministerial code of conduct since then?
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