Give Youth A Chance, Not Brits

Illawarra Mercury

Wednesday March 1, 2006

HOW distressing was the article in the Mercury (February 21) re: recruiting British skilled migrants to the Illawarra? All parents of young job seekers should be alert and definitely alarmed.

We have the highest youth unemployment rate in Australia. We have schools filled with boys who do not want to be there because the curriculum does not suit their needs. Many students stay at school simply because there are not enough apprenticeships offered.

These students become behaviour problems, which becomes a drain on the education system.

I beg to differ with the views expressed in the article, ie "more young people (can) be enticed to pursue a trades career". These young people don't need enticing, they need the opportunity.

The politicians and business leaders only need to go into their local high school and offer apprenticeships and student numbers would fall dramatically.

Don't give the Brits the money, give local business the financial incentive to employ the apprentices. These incentives were discussed many years ago and still not nearly enough has been done.

Australia's future is first and foremost for our young people, not for the benefit of British skilled workers.

How many of these workers will really want to return to the UK once they have sampled the free flowing milk and honey of the Illawarra?

If and when our apprentices are trained in three to four years time, where will the jobs be? Maybe those Brits will manage to extend their temporary visas!

- JANET PEZZUTTO,

Figtree.

Fathers lose out

THE Mercury report "Why divorce spells misery for sole fathers" (February 20) highlights two serious problems: the failure of governments to address this scandal, and the failure of the Child Support Agency to fulfil its role.

Having dealt with the CSA for over five years, I write from personal, often bad experience. To be fair to CSA employees, they have to follow government guidelines laid down in Parliament. However, there is a saying that there are two kinds of people in the world who never amount to much, those who cannot do what they are told, and those who can do nothing else.

My experience with the CSA has unfortunately been mostly the latter. The impersonal, uncaring and bureaucratic way each case is handled creates among many the idea that the CSA is nothing but an ATM dispenser for the spouse receiving benefits. Incidentally, I have been on both sides, giving and receiving, and my opinion is unchanged.

There is no accountability for where child support benefits are spent, which gives the beneficiary carte blanche licence to spend wherever they wish, and no guarantee that all of it is going to the child's welfare. So it's no wonder so many use chicanery or choose unemployment and some, unfortunately, suicide.

The worst aspect of the CSA (and the Government) is that they seem to assume most fathers are incompetent, lazy, child support dodgers who will shirk responsibility to their children. Not so, when they know for certain every cent donated will go to their child, watch the incidents of chicanery, unemployment and suicide fade. The CSA doesn't need an overhaul. It needs to be scrapped altogether and replaced with a fairer system, and we need a system which is responsible and fair while requiring accountability from ex-spouses as well.

- RAY AGOSTINI,

Wollongong.

Pick up dogs' poo

REPORTS that there have been nine dog deaths from the parvo virus in inner Sydney is a worry.

Parvo disease is spread though dog faeces. I can't help noticing that there are plenty of careless dog owners around Lake Illawarra who don't pick up their dogs' poo. There's a stiff penalty ($200?), but who's watching?

- P FERGUSON,

Berkeley.

Green education

FEW would be surprised at the Greens' opposition to teaching intelligent design in the classroom (February 25).

But how many parents are aware that the Greens' education policy says "The Greens NSW (also) reject ... the utterly false and misleading notion of consumer choice ... (and) ... the trend towards stratification of schools based on the curriculum offered".

How long will it be before they request the withdrawal of funding from the Illawarra Sports High School, Smith's Hill High and Wollongong High School of Performing Arts etc?

- ADRIAN GALLAGHER,

Dapto.

It's hard to take

I FIND Trevor Mott's comments, "What we intend to do long-term is get good independents on council" - pretty hard to take considering we already have four good independents.

I do not regard the Lord Mayor as an independent.

I am hoping he actually meant that more good independents would suffice to alter the status quo. That independents are run in other wards that are not secured now.

This business of "Protesters climb on soapbox" (February 22) seems to be more politically motivated than anything else. These are not a substitute for the neighbourhood committees and should not be regarded as so. At the end of the day, regardless of whether someone is Labor, Liberal or Green, it is hoped they get involved because they know the difference between right and wrong.

- ALAN BOND,

Stanwell Tops.

Stop graffiti mess

IF you talk to police off the record about graffiti they readily agree, being caught and warned three times before being charged will only see this demoralising mess get worse.

Residents are fed up with pussyfooting around with young adults who think it's fun to vandalise the community.

We don't need statistics to see that all crime in NSW is escalating ... and our next premier will be one that has hard-fast law and order policies to stop this mess!

- BRIAN JOHNSON,

Gymea.

© 2006 Illawarra Mercury

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