Standing Committee on Social Issues

Debate resumed from 14 September 2005.

The Hon. JAN BURNSWOODS [2.00 p.m.]: In the very brief time remaining to me I reiterate the thanks to the committee members and staff that I gave on the last occasion I spoke in this take-note debate. I also pay tribute to some of the good things happening in and around Redfern since the release of the committee's report. I mention, for instance, the wonderful work of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, in conjunction with Lidcombe TAFE and a number of companies in the construction industry, which, the last time I checked, had helped to train 150 young Aboriginal men—a very large percentage of whom were from Redfern and Waterloo. Some of them were informal apprentices and some of the slightly older men trained through TAFE and the companies. All those people are being guaranteed full-time jobs. There are a number of positives happening in human services in relation to the new health centre, and I would like to conclude my contribution to this debate by warmly welcoming them.

Motion agreed to.