Mr ANDREWS —My question is addressed to the Minister for Employment Services. Is the minister aware of any work for the dole projects that have recently attracted unfair criticism; have projects of this nature operated in the past; and can the minister outline to the House details of any recent statements of support by public figures for participants in these types of work for the dole projects?

Mr Emerson —Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. That question asked for an opinion from the minister by using the reference to `unfair'; you used that in relation to the member for Lilley's question a moment ago.

Mr SPEAKER —I am happy to elaborate with the member for Rankin later, but the member for Lilley's question quite distinctly asked for an opinion and this question does not.

Mr ABBOTT (Employment Services) —I thank the member for Menzies for his question and for his strong support for Work for the Dole projects. I am aware of a proposal to place 140 Work for the Dole participants in up to 25 ACT schools, which has not proceeded because of opposition from the local union movement. I am aware of another proposal to place 24 carefully selected and supervised Work for the Dole participants in ACT child-care centres which also attracted significant union opposition. But it is going ahead and operating well because it has the support of the vast majority of the parents concerned. Union opposition to Work for the Dole is pretty surprising, given the member for Werriwa's support for forcing welfare recipients to act as parent educators or risk losing the dole. It is also surprising given that under the former government's Working Nation program hundreds and hundreds of unemployed people were placed in schools and child-care centres on programs.

I have been asked about recent statements in support of Work for the Dole. None other than the man of the hour, the Premier of New South Wales, said recently:

Let's think of the girl working in the school on the north coast working for the dole because she wants to be there in a classroom with kindergarten kids.

I thank the Premier of New South Wales for his endorsement of Work for the Dole. Presumably this is yet another split within the Labor Party. I call on the unsuccessful Leader of the Opposition to reprimand the successful Premier for breaking ranks on this issue.