1995
1995.1. The Work Force of the Future (supplementary submission)
Submitted 10 May 1995 to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Long Term Strategies, Parliament of Australia
Published: Victorian Humanist, June 1995: 4.
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Long Term Strategies invited the HSV to make a supplementary submission on The Work Force of the Future in view of the recent programs of Working Nation and other developments since the inquiry started last year [1994].
In response to some of the terms of reference we made the following main points:
* Profound social and economic changes will occur as the nature of work alters; there is potential for social damage; the Working Nation program addresses some of these issues but other measures are necessary.
* The well-being of the nation is the government’s responsibility; job creation should remain a high priority; co-operatives and cottage industries should be assisted in initial stages; those with creative talents should be subsidised until their products become commercially viable.
* Benefits of competitiveness not withstanding, market forces cannot be relied on to provide equality of access to resources.
* The speed and variety of technological changes makes the future ever more unpredictable. But further automation, labour- and time-saving devices and systems are inevitable and certain to further reduce the volume of available work, particularly of the less skilled type.
* Strong trends indicate that part-time, casual and contracted for work projects will become the norm in the developed countries;
* Education is of paramount importance; it is encouraging to see a greatly increased per cent[age] of school students completing year 12, and the higher tertiary quotas. But quite early in schooling, special programs should engender mechanisms for coping with a rapidly changing world that loses its traditional anchors and certainties, most vitally the skills of continuing learning, flexibility and a generalist base of skills to ensure future flexibility. Science and computer literacy; human relations [sic].
We made brief comments on other questions asked: social implications (and suggested a task force to monitor those), aspirations, expectations and attitudes to work, stress in adaptation to change, new ways of valuing time, decentralisation and regional development.
Several references were quoted, others enclosed. A covering note acknowledged the late Senator Olive Zakharov’s contribution to this submission.
ADDENDUM
From the Victorian Humanist, Aug. 1995: 4.
Feedback on The Inquiry into the Workforce of the Future:
Report by the House of Representatives
Standing Committee for Long Term Strategies.
Note: The HSV made two submissions to this inquiry, an initial one and a later one in response to an invitation from the inquiry committee.
The following points are the key recommendations made for Federal Government consideration. They are taken directly from the Report and foreshadow the changing needs of future workplace practices.
* that the Government examine measures which may facilitate tendencies to outsource work from the home, government administration and industry (including primary industry), as outsourcing will be a major contribution to employment.
* that the Government take note of Australia’s significant lack of internationally recognised brand names (such Volvo from Sweden), especially in consumer goods, the result of foreign ownership of key industrial sectors (motor vehicles, computers, electronics, chemical) and the failure of Australian industry to take up new challenges, eg. CSIRO’s “gene shears”, and to provide resources to create an “inventory” of high value-added Australian products.
* in view of the increasing importance of service employment to the future economic development of the nation, a continuing policy emphasis should be placed on the co-ordination of Government Programs, to enhance the training of the work force in that sector, and the further development of its export potential.
* that the Government adopt a National Information Policy which sets out the social, economic and cultural implications of the “information revolution”, especially the possibility of a growing division between the “information rich” and the “information poor” and the serious impact this will have on under skilled individuals, groups and regions in Australia.
* that a peak body for TAFE be set up, analogous to the Australian Vice Chancellors’ Committee, to assist in the co-ordination of TAFE resources, and engage in medium and long-term planning.
* that the Government provide a rapid and comprehensive response to the Karpin Report on the Education and Training of Management.
* that the Government requests the Australian Bureau of Statistics to review the appropriateness of their existing data collection methodology in consultation with relevant industry sectors indicating the significance of ‘information’ and domestic or quasi-domestic service employment.
* that the concept of mandatory retirement with its concept of “statutory senility” and that people age uniformly be abolished, but that voluntary retirement for both women and men should be possible without reference to gender differentiation.
* that policies be developed to recognise the significance of the “third aged” [age?], to assist them to maintain their independence outside institutions as long as possible, and to promote the contribution of volunteers.
* that the Government investigate ways to enable workers to be able to phase down working hours before retirement without loss of superannuation benefits.
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1995.2. “Schools of the Future” in Victoria
Submitted 2 July 1995 to the Minister for Schools, Vocational Education and Training, Australia (The Hon. Ross Free).
Published: Victorian Humanist, July 1995: 4.
Education in Victoria
In the Federal Parliament on 30 March 1995 Minister Free said, “The Commonwealth is committed to ensuring that all young Australians receive an education which is both full and relevant” (Hansard: p. 2575).
In the HSV submission concern was expressed about some of the changes currently occurring in Victorian state school education under the “Schools of the Future” program. We quoted several public reports and statements by teachers, some of whom are HSV members.
Some points raised were:
* The increase in class sizes, due to severe funding are especially detrimental to:
(a) the very young who need individual attention from their teacher, and
(b) effective science teaching where practical activities require individual access and supervision, for both safety as well as good educational outcomes.
* With the policy of schools having their “own curriculum choice”, vital subjects e.g. social education, human relationships, and citizenship, which in our view are essential components of a modern education, are deleted. This loss creates a lack of uniformity in basics.
* Unregulated privatisation of schools has detrimental effects on equity in education.
* Corporate sponsorship increases the inequality between and within school systems. It is also inconsistent and unreliable.
* School levies on library services, access to learning technology, and educational outings, seriously disadvantage children of the poor.
* Cuts to special services for those with learning difficulties, for the homeless among school children, for prevention of bullying and violence are all false economies that create long-term, costly consequences.
* Potential for nepotism has been created by the new powers given to principals to hire, fire and promote teachers.
* Commonwealth grants to schools for special services such as ESL should be needs-based and not allocated to wealthy schools
* More than ever, good basic, generalist education is needed to offset the steady reduction in unskilled jobs
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1995.3. Medical Assistance in Voluntary Euthanasia
Submitted 7 August 1995 to the President and Chairman of Council of the Australian Medical Association.
Published: Victorian Humanist, Sept. 1995: 4.
Submission from the HSV to Dr David Weedon, President, Australian Medical Association (AMA), and Professor Priscilla Kincaid-Smith, AMA Chairman of Council.
We write to express our concern over the position which the AMA has adopted in the current debate on Voluntary Euthanasia.
Since the AMA summit in Canberra last August, extensive surveys, public debates, and the passing of The Terminally Ill Bill in the Northern Territory, have revealed the need for assistance to the dying.
We believe such assistance, if voluntarily requested, is increasingly necessary where pain and distress relief is not achievable and where life-sustaining treatment is futile.
The small number of terminally ill patients whose distress, pain or loss of dignity cannot be alleviated by palliative care require expert help to achieve dignified and easy death. The incidence of often botched suicide attempts by such patients is a testimony to that requirement.
The decriminalising of suicide was acknowledgement of autonomy over one’s life. The granting of the right to refuse medical treatment was a further extension of that autonomy.
We are impressed by the careful provisions of the NT’s Bill to exclude the potential for abuse by requiring assessment by two doctors, witnesses, the documentation and the involvement of the State [Territory?] Coroner.
It is common knowledge that euthanasia is practised in defiance of the law at present. Doctors and nurses testify to this personally, as do several surveys.
A recent survey by Professor Peter Baume and Emma O’Malley (Medical Journal of Australia, 18 July 1994) found that “there was majority support for changes to the law concerning euthanasia”. In their conclusion the authors state: “There are relatively high levels of support for, and practice of, active voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide by medical practitioners in NSW and the ACT, suggesting that the current legislation should be reviewed.”
We believe that the current legislation is harmful for two reasons: first it puts the caring, compassionate physician in breach of the law; and secondly it maintains the potential for abuse.
We believe that the decriminalisation and regulation of physician-assisted suicide is urgently needed.
We urge the AMA to support uniform legislation throughout the Commonwealth of Australia to decriminalise compassionate assistance on request to die without agony and dignity.
(Recent articles in support of HSV views were enclosed with this submission.)
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1995.4. Illicit Drug Use in Victoria
Submitted 21 December 1995 to the Drug Advisory Council
Published: Victorian Humanist, Feb. 1996: 10.
We responded to the call for submissions from the recently formed Drug Advisory Council in Victoria to inquire into the drug problem.
Main points, drawn from our much discussed and established policy on drugs, were:
* that the current prohibition is ineffective in drug use control.
* that it creates large industries of trafficking with vast untaxable profits.
* that it creates opportunities for corruption in law enforcement agencies.
* that much ill health is caused by the adulterated products sold.
* that the immature, the disaffected and the unemployed among us use drugs to escape from their harsh reality. They often resort to theft to support their habit and become locked into the underworld.
* This selective prohibition cannot be supported on rational grounds: the prevalence of alcohol and tobacco abuse far exceed that of the illicit drugs and the resulting health costs are far greater.
* A serious problem is created among the intravenous drug users by the practice of sharing needles and syringes. The spread of HIV so acquired threatens the whole community.
We suggested that:
• all drug use be decriminalised;
• marijuana be marketed and sold as a highly taxed luxury item to adults only;
• special clinics supply heroin addicts with reasonably priced methadone or heroin and, without obligation, also offer treatment and rehabilitation;
• free sterile needles and syringes be available to intravenous drug addicts who are able to use methadone;
• intensive educational campaign at all levels of schooling and community to inform of the danger of all substance abuse and present the overuse of mood-altering substance as a weakness, an inability to function without props;
• advertising of alcohol and tobacco be banned at all venues;
• large scale research be undertaken into the social and personal causes of addiction.
(References enclosed)
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[End of 1995]
