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Media Release
QUEENSLAND FAILS TO CONVINCE STATES TO BACK GROWTH FUNDING
22 November, 2003 MINCO01/03
Queensland Minister for Education and Training Matt Foley has again comprehensively failed to convince his Labor State and Territory colleagues to back his call for a revised funding formula under the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) Agreement which would recognise the population growth taking place in Queensland.
The ANTA Agreement allocates funding according to a mechanism which reflects the contribution of each State and Territory to training funding in the early 90s, when ANTA was created.
As Minister for Employment, Training and Industrial Relations between 1992 – 1995, Minister Foley oversaw the funding formula which today deprives Queensland.
Yesterday at the Ministerial Council meeting of Australia’s Training Ministers, Minister Foley was unable to convince his Labor colleagues from Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, the ACT, South Australia and the Northern Territory to back his claim that Queensland’s growth needs to be recognised in the next ANTA Agreement 2007 – 2009.
Minister Foley is now misrepresenting the Australian Government’s generous training offer to Queensland. Under the proposed ANTA Agreement 2004 -06, the Australian Government will deliver the States and Territories $3.6 billion for training which includes growth funding of $325.5 million. Queensland will receive $594.3 million over three years, including $42.6 million over and above current funding levels.
This represents a 2.5% real increase in funding over the life of the 3 year ANTA Agreement and contrasts sharply with the Queensland Government’s 2.6% decrease in funding for vocational education and training announced in its budget this year.
Since 2002 Queensland has slashed 3,800 New Apprenticeship opportunities. In the last year alone, Queensland has cut 1,930 training places from it’s system. Most places have been axed in desperately needed skill shortages areas such as automotive, building and construction and engineering and mining.
At the same time, Queensland has recently announced changes which will impact on private providers of training which Queensland business estimates will drive another 10,500 New Apprentices out of the system.
Further to this the Queensland Government has announced a plan to cut a further 12.5% places in automotive and 4.4% in building and construction. Where is the logic in Minister Foley’s position?
Media Contact Dr Nelson’s Office: Ross Hampton 0419 484 095
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