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Media Release
ACCI REPORT ON BARRIERS TO TRAINING WELCOMED
27 July 2005
Minister for Vocational and Technical Education, the Hon Gary Hardgrave MP, today welcomed the Australia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) report into workplace relations barriers to training, which supports the Australian Government’s continued call for States and Territories to make changes to allow for School-Based New Apprenticeships (SBNAs) in their jurisdictions.
Mr Hardgrave said it was now up to the State and Territory Ministers and their union bosses to deliver on their responsibilities in improving apprenticeship opportunities.
“The issue of increasing the uptake of School-Based New Apprenticeships has been and remains a central component of the Australian Government’s policy. This report from ACCI shows that in New South Wales, Western Australia and Tasmania there are no award provisions available for traditional trades SBNAs,” Mr Hardgrave said.
“At the same time, it is worth noting Queensland’s active role in addressing some of these impediments to allow for a full range of SBNAs in their state.
“Recently the Deputy Opposition Leader called on the Howard Government to double the number of School-Based New Apprenticeships. I assure Ms Macklin that we would love to see a doubling of the number of SBNAs but this issue is one that lies with her State Labor counterparts.
“I continue to find it outrageous that Ms Macklin either deliberately chooses to ignore reality and offers suggestions that demonstrate a total failure to understand vocational and technical education.
“Impediments to the take-up of School-Based New Apprenticeships lie with the States and Territories and Ms Macklin must now stand up for Australian kids and ring her State Labor Minister and push for changes to be made.
“Ms Macklin also called for more money to be put into TAFE – the Australian Government does not fund TAFE. We provide funding to the States and Territories for their vocational and technical education (VTE) systems. They manage their systems which include TAFEs. It is the States and Territories who choose to turn people away from VTE.”
Media contact: Suzanne Ferguson 0402 896 100
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