Thu, 3rd July 2008

COAG must cut through training chaos

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

Today’s meeting of COAG needs to resolve some of the policy chaos that is rife between the States and the Commonwealth under Labor. Last year Kevin Rudd promised he would end the blame game. Seven months later the Federal arrangements for training are in chaos.

On coming to office, the Rudd Government capped and then scrapped the Work Skills Voucher program which provided funded training for more than 80,000 people including existing workers. Since the Work Skills Voucher Program was closed on 1 April, workers have experienced a training vacuum.

New training places were supposed to be available on July 1st for existing workers. Labor promised to have training for existing workers paid for by the Commonwealth Government (50%), State Governments (40%) and employers (10%).

After seven months the Rudd government has still not got agreement from the State Governments to fund this election promise. South Australian Education Minister Paul Caica admitted on radio on the 1st July, 2008 that

“In regard to the Productivity Places, we’re still in discussions with the Federal Government about those Productivity Places”.

Only Western Australia has offered to take part in a pilot program. This leaves existing workers in limbo- unable to access training they were told would be available by July 1st.

Last year Kevin07 promised upskilling for existing workers. This year, Kevin08 is yet to deliver on his promise and has missed several key deadlines.

We need an answer from COAG as to whether the State and Territory Governments will be paying for 40% of the upskilling for workers which was promised loudly by Labor last year and which they are very quiet about now.