Document Index Budget Paper 2

Expense ($m)

Explanation

The Government will expand the Work for the Dole scheme to accommodate those Year 12 school leavers who have been receiving unemployment payments for three months or more.

This measure delivers on the Government’s election commitment in Working for the Dole.

Further Information

This measure will provide Year 12 school leavers with access to valuable work experience in order to enhance their employment prospects and to provide them with the opportunity to contribute positively to local communities. The measure will provide for up to 6,000 places a year for Year 12 school leavers on full rate of unemployment payments.

Explanation

The Government will provide flexible assistance to primary care givers who return to the workforce after an absence of two years or more. The assistance will be in areas such as skills assessments, return to work and career planning, confidence building, increasing familiarity with current technology and facilitating access to relevant training. This measure will improve job opportunities and choices for unemployed people returning to the workforce and will be of particular benefit to women who have been out of the workforce caring for young children.

This measure delivers on the Government’s election commitment in Pathways to Employment.

Explanation

The Government will introduce secret ballots for decisions about protected industrial action. Secret ballots will enhance the democratic decision-making processes involved in protected industrial action, help to improve the arrangements for bargaining, strengthen the accountability and responsiveness of unions to their members and minimize unnecessary protected industrial action.

This measure delivers on the Government’s election commitment in More Jobs, Better Pay.

Explanation

The Government will review and restructure the Workplace Relations Act 1996. If appropriate, a plain English version of the Act will be developed. This measure will help employers and employees to better understand the workplace relations regulatory framework, and the rights, obligations and opportunities the system provides. A plain English version of the Act will allow employers and employees to assume greater direct responsibility for workplace matters.

This measure delivers on the Government’s election commitment in More Jobs, Better Pay.

Explanation

The Government will make some changes to Australia’s Affirmative Action framework. It will change the names of the Affirmative Action Agency, the Director and the Act and will establish an Advisory Board. New streamlined reporting arrangements will apply and education materials will also be developed.

This measure is aimed at improving the operation of the legislation with an increased focus on outcomes achieved, a reduction in paperwork and stronger workplace links.

This measure delivers on the Government’s election commitment in More Jobs, Better Pay.

Explanation

The Government will initiate a three year grants programme called the Small Business Enterprise Culture Programme (SBECP). The Programme's key aim will be to foster the development and enhancement of small business owner/managers’ skills and to increase recognition of the importance of such skills to business viability. To achieve this aim, the Programme will support projects that enhance access to skills development and mentoring services which meet the needs of small businesses.

The measure will support selected demonstration projects that provide skills development initiatives and mentoring services to either employing small businesses or those capable of taking on employees. A specific element of the SBECP will be devoted to supporting information access and business support initiatives for women owner/managers of small businesses.

This measure delivers on the Government’s election commitment in A Small Business Agenda for the new Millenium.

Further Information

The SBECP's key elements will be the three election commitments made by the Government in A Small Business Agenda for the New Millennium (1998). These are:

• the establishment and support of mentoring programmes for small businesses;

• fostering skills development for micro business managers; and

• assisting the growth and prosperity of women in small business.

Questions? Comments? Problems? Past Last Updated: Tuesday 11th May, 7:30 pm AEST