VIC AND QLD TURN THEIR BACK ON AUSTRALIAN TRADIES

The Labor State Governments of Victoria and Queensland have turned their back on $565 million in Federal funding to create the next generation of Australian tradies and skilled workers.

Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocation Education Senator Michaelia Cash said Premiers Andrews and Palaszczuk had failed to sign up to the Skilling Australians Fund, a federal partnership with the States and Territories, that would have awarded Queensland $245 million and Victoria $320 million to create 50,000 new apprentice and training program places in Queensland and over 65,000 new places in Victoria over four years.

The Skilling Australians Fund was established in the 2017-18 Budget with $1.5 billion in federal funds to support state and territory governments increase apprenticeships and traineeships. State and territory governments had until 30 September 2018 to sign up.

Minister Cash said that after 18 months of discussions between Federal and State Ministers and officials, she was pleased that New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory all signed partnership agreements.

Minister Cash said that she was also pleased that in early September the South Australian Marshall Liberal Government launched the start of the Skilling South Australia initiative, a $203 million partnership with the Federal Government to create over 20,000 new apprenticeships and traineeships over the next four years.

This $203 million investment will ensure South Australians have the skills and are job-ready for key growth industries such as defence.

"The Liberal National Government is disappointed that the Victorian and Queensland Labor State Governments failed to sign the partnership agreement and put politics before the needs of their communities,” Minister Cash said.

"Their decisions will make it harder for young Australian tradies to get ahead and will limit the training opportunities for Australian workers in their states.

“The Liberal National Government believes in training Australian workers for Australian jobs.

"I thank the other state and territory governments for their good faith negotiations and putting the interest of Australian apprentices and trainees first.

“The Liberal National Government wants to ensure Australian industry is future-proofed with a new generation of skilled trades workers – the Palaszczuk and Andrews Governments’ do not.”