The development of Commonwealth labour market programs: a chronology

This background paper traces the development of [labour market programs] LMPs since the early 1970s, concentrating on programs and schemes of the Commonwealth Government, which has the primary and overriding responsibility for macro-economic, and therefore employment, policy in Australia. The paper is divided into several sections. The chronological sections trace changes in each type of program, classified or categorised according to the way they have been administered or co-ordinated by the Department of Employment, Education and Training (DEET). Under current administrative arrangements, there are (1) employment programs, or labour market assistance to jobseekers and industry (DEET Program 4) and (2) vocational (education) and industry training programs (DEET Program 3), and their sub-programs. This allows for accurate statistical comparisons. The development of the Technical and Further Education (TAFE) system (for trades and other non-professional training), which has traditionally been under the jurisdiction of the States, is not included in the paper, except where there have been changes because of Commonwealth involvement. The role and functions of the Commonwealth Employment Service (CES) had not changed significantly since 1945 until the changes proposed in the 1994 white paper 'Working nation: policies and proposals', so reference to it is made only when additional or other measures or processes involve it. However, as it is an LMP and plays a basic role in many other LMPs it is accounted for in the tables. This paper updates and expands on earlier Parliamentary Research Service papers entitled 'Commonwealth employment and training schemes since 1973'.

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