Debate resumed, on motion by Mr Hayes:

That this House:

(1)

notes that:

(a)

the importance of high school completion in equipping young people with the skills and education levels to translate into paid employment or further education opportunities;

(b)

the national rate of unemployment for persons aged 15 to 19 looking for full-time work was 24.2 per cent in January 2010; and

(c)

the current rate for Fairfield-Liverpool region is 33.5 per cent;

(2)

acknowledges that:

(a)

education and high school retention play a crucial part in improving youth employment opportunity;

(b)

in 2009, the Year 10 to 12 apparent national retention rate was 76.7 per cent; and

(c)

in South West Sydney the current retention rate is: 72.6 per cent;

(3)

calls on:

(a)

the Government to continue its efforts to ensure an above 90 per cent high school retention rate nationwide by 2015 in order to reduce the youth unemployment rate; and

(b)

local businesses to give, where possible, priority to the local youth searching for employment.

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