Overview

The Diary of Social Legislation and Policy is compiled annually to record changes made in government social policy and legislation during the preceding year. It provides a ready reference for researchers and workers in government and service organisations and can also be used as a factual account of policy and major legislation announced during the year.

Significant events and government action occurred in a number of portfolio areas in 1991. Among those recorded in this edition of the Diary are: the abolition on July 1 of the longstanding 'dole' or Uriemployment Benefit (UB), and the introduction of 'active employment strategies' as advanced in the Newstart Allowance; the results of a major Mid Tenn Review of Aged Care; a series of background papers on the provision, quality and effectiveness of health services, commissioned to infonn a National Health Strategy; the crisis of over enrolments and overcrowding in higher education; the release of a White Paper on Australia's language and literacy policy to address the. critical shortcomings in competence in English and other languages; the announcement of the tenns of reference of a Parliamentary Inquiry into the Family Law Act; the release of a number of reports from a National Housing Strategy set up to develop an integrated evaluation of housing needs and policy; and, the reduction in numbers of immigrants to be selected in 1991-92.

Diary of social legislation and policy series.