5 years ago
APPRENTICESHIPS CONTINUE TO FALL UNDER THE COALITION
SENATOR THE HON DOUG CAMERON
The number of people undertaking an apprenticeship in Australia continues to freefall under the Coalition.
In the last financial year, there was a further 1 per cent decline in people undertaking an Australian apprenticeship, or 2755 fewer apprentices and trainees.
The latest fall continues an alarming downward trend – there being a decline of more than 140,000 Australian apprenticeships since the Coalition came to power.
The latest National Centre for Vocational Education Research figures also show a 5.1 per cent drop in women commencing an Australian apprenticeship.
The trade training rate also remains unacceptably low at 9.5 per cent.
Shadow Minister for Skills, TAFE and Apprenticeships, Doug Cameron, said the NCVER figures show the Government has given up on helping young Australians attain an apprenticeship.
Meanwhile, the Australian Industry Group’s 2018 Workforce Development Needs Survey Report shows 75 per cent of employers are reporting skill shortages, up from 49 per cent in 2016.
“These figures just highlight the ongoing demise of apprenticeships and trade training in Australia under the Coalition,” Senator Cameron said.
“Young people can’t get apprenticeships while employers are screaming out for skilled workers.
“Rather than addressing the crisis caused by its $3 billion in cuts to the training sector, the Liberals instead install a failed minister in Senator Michaelia Cash.”
In Senator Cash’s home state of Western Australia, there are 9,615 fewer apprenticeships, including more than 7000 in trade occupations, since the Liberals were elected.
The NCVER figures show 1,610 fewer Australian apprenticeships commenced in WA in the past year down from the previous year, including 13.2 per cent fewer women.
Meanwhile, the Government’s so-called ‘bush wage’ subsidy is about to be rolled out across the country, raising further concerns about this Government’s capacity to manage the apprenticeship system.
The bush wage is modelled on a One Nation thought bubble and is a political fix stop National Party voters deserting them at the next election.
In the wake of the recent death of 20-year-old Victorian apprentice Dillon Wu, Senator Cash must explain what measures are in place to protect the safety and welfare of apprentices employed under the bush wage subsidy.
It is essential that the Minister ensures there are safeguards in place to prevent the exploitation of young workers across the system.
Senator Cash must also provide an update on where the replacement apprenticeship IT system is at after the Government wasted $24 million on the now abandoned Australian Apprenticeship Management System.
In the last financial year, there was a further 1 per cent decline in people undertaking an Australian apprenticeship, or 2755 fewer apprentices and trainees.
The latest fall continues an alarming downward trend – there being a decline of more than 140,000 Australian apprenticeships since the Coalition came to power.
The latest National Centre for Vocational Education Research figures also show a 5.1 per cent drop in women commencing an Australian apprenticeship.
The trade training rate also remains unacceptably low at 9.5 per cent.
Shadow Minister for Skills, TAFE and Apprenticeships, Doug Cameron, said the NCVER figures show the Government has given up on helping young Australians attain an apprenticeship.
Meanwhile, the Australian Industry Group’s 2018 Workforce Development Needs Survey Report shows 75 per cent of employers are reporting skill shortages, up from 49 per cent in 2016.
“These figures just highlight the ongoing demise of apprenticeships and trade training in Australia under the Coalition,” Senator Cameron said.
“Young people can’t get apprenticeships while employers are screaming out for skilled workers.
“Rather than addressing the crisis caused by its $3 billion in cuts to the training sector, the Liberals instead install a failed minister in Senator Michaelia Cash.”
In Senator Cash’s home state of Western Australia, there are 9,615 fewer apprenticeships, including more than 7000 in trade occupations, since the Liberals were elected.
The NCVER figures show 1,610 fewer Australian apprenticeships commenced in WA in the past year down from the previous year, including 13.2 per cent fewer women.
Meanwhile, the Government’s so-called ‘bush wage’ subsidy is about to be rolled out across the country, raising further concerns about this Government’s capacity to manage the apprenticeship system.
The bush wage is modelled on a One Nation thought bubble and is a political fix stop National Party voters deserting them at the next election.
In the wake of the recent death of 20-year-old Victorian apprentice Dillon Wu, Senator Cash must explain what measures are in place to protect the safety and welfare of apprentices employed under the bush wage subsidy.
It is essential that the Minister ensures there are safeguards in place to prevent the exploitation of young workers across the system.
Senator Cash must also provide an update on where the replacement apprenticeship IT system is at after the Government wasted $24 million on the now abandoned Australian Apprenticeship Management System.