Evaluation of the Australian Wage Subsidy Special Youth ...

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Award Conditions for employment were being breached. Edwards (1987) p87 also notes
that for the Wollongong and Newcastle areas, evidence for such employer behaviour with
regard to subsidies was ‘fairly minimal’. However, in practice the responsibility was
there, but CES officers’ monitoring would be limited and discretional.
Table 2.5 Key SYETP provisions in 1983/84
Target group Subsidy structure and period Eligible positions
SYETP 32 , private 33
Semi-skilled
employer
Extended SYETP
15-24 years,
unemployed
registered with
CES and away
from fulltime
education for 4 of
the past 12 months
18-24 years
registered with
CES; unemployed
and away from
fulltime education
for 8 of the past 12
months
Source: BLMR (1983) p6, Tables 1.2 and 1.3.
flat rate for 17 weeks, for all
placements in the age group
(some age tiers from 1984)
34 weeks: First 17 weeks higher
rate, second 17 weeks lower rate
Semi-skilled
2.2.4 Political environment of SYETP
SYETP operated across a long period of time, with a varying political background. As
Stretton and Chapman (1990) p1 and section 3 point out, the expenditure on programmes
and the mix of programmes offered changed over time due to differing government
economic philosophies, observed changes in the unemployment structure and rate, and
ambiguity about the role of programmes and their effectiveness. Despite this, SYETP
continued to operate, although with resulting changes to size and operation, as
summarized in other sections.
Ross (1988) identifies SYETP with two key periods of government, distinguished by the
Prime Ministers, which led them. SYETP started during the Fraser Government (1975-
1983) – a Liberal government led by Malcolm Fraser, and continued into the time of the
32 Also known as Standard SYETP.
33 Also termed non-Commonwealth SYETP.