Mon, 30th June 2008

Labor's education revolution in disarray

Dr Andrew Southcott MP
Shadow Minister for Employment Participation and Apprenticeships and Training

Kevin Rudd’s Education Revolution was already in disarray after the fiasco of the hollow 'computers in schools' promise. Now we have the admission that Phase 2 of the Productivity Places Program, intended to upskill existing workers, has been delayed indefinitely.

Up to 66,000 existing workers were supposed to be able to receive fully funded training to upskill from July 1, with funding based on a 50/40/10 (Federal/State/Employer) split. Yet, as of 30 June, by their own admission, Labor has failed to negotiate any agreements with states or territories, with the exception of Western Australia, which has entered an agreement to offer 1000 of these 66,000 places.

Once again, this is an example of empty promises by the Rudd Labor Government. On the 5th June, 2008, Julia Gillard claimed for existing workers that

“Those productivity places are going to be delivered in partnership with state and territory governments. We are entering those agreements now. The member for Boothby would probably have seen that I have made some public announcements about an agreement, for example, with Western Australia. He should anticipate there being further agreements struck with states and territories which will be announced at the time”.