Page 3551 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 18 September 2019

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package came into effect earlier this year and it is continuing to raise ethical and labour standards across a range of industries in the territory.

Apprentices and trainees working for businesses tendering for construction, cleaning, security or traffic management work are now protected by the code, and through the Secure Local Jobs Code Registrar who will continue to educate and enforce the legal requirements of employers under the code.

MR PETTERSSON: Minister, how is the government supporting young women in particular to gain secure employment and develop their careers?

MS ORR: As Minister for Employment and Workplace Safety, I am committed to supporting Canberrans, particularly women, to gain secure employment in their chosen careers. On 29 August, I had the pleasure of attending the 2019 Construction Industry Training Council’s graduating apprentice and industry encouragement awards. These awards, supported by the ACT government and industry, acknowledge the hard work of apprentices in the ACT and the valuable role they play in building and construction across our city.

This year’s award for outstanding apprentice of the year went to Lauren Baseden. Lauren is an apprentice electrician and has worked extremely hard to gain the skills she needs for her career in her trade. Lauren was also successful in winning the outstanding electrical apprentice award and outstanding woman in a non-traditional trade award. It was fantastic to meet Lauren and the other young women at the awards, who are all excelling in their industries.

As a government, we know the benefits of breaking down barriers in what have traditionally been male-dominated occupations. The ACT government will continue to support women right across Canberra to gain secure employment and develop their careers. Celebrating the achievements of women such as Lauren helps to break down barriers and encourage others.

MS CHEYNE: Minister, what other ways is this government supporting Canberrans to access secure employment?

MS ORR: This government will always support Canberrans to access and gain secure employment. All of us in this government understand how important a safe and secure job is for all Canberrans who can work. As a government, are delivering the public services that Canberra needs and we can guarantee that, as our city grows, we can employ more people in secure jobs. We will continue to create more job opportunities for Canberrans and ensure that we can continue to deliver essential services right across the territory.

Our government can guarantee Canberrans that our public service will be safe from cuts. We value the work that public servants do every day and we are fundamentally opposed to the federal and ACT Liberals’ policies of cutting public servants and outsourcing their work. We will continue to support working people right across the ACT, including apprentices, trainees and public service workers. Canberrans can trust that this government will always value secure employment in this city.


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