Thu, 3rd July 2008

How ending the blame game became "Argy-Bargy" as usual

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

With the Commonwealth-State 'computers in schools' partnership now officially in tatters, today’s COAG meeting must now clarify State and Territory government responsibilities in the roll-out of the Trade Training Centres.

Labor’s education policy document stated that States and Territories would be required to “maintain existing effort” and “match the provision of capital assistance”, and Kevin Rudd issued a media release in May 2007 saying that States and Territories would be required to “provide appropriate physical infrastructure”.

In addition, the guidelines for the Trade Training in Schools Program outline no fewer than 21 State responsibilities.

Yet, despite this level of responsibility, no formal partnership agreement has been signed by any State or Territory government.

Last year Kevin07 pledged he would end the blame game. This year Kevin08 accepts “argy-bargy” as normal.

COAG must move quickly towards finalising a partnership agreement with the States and Territories to quell any fears of a repeat ‘computers in schools’ fiasco.

If today’s COAG meeting can’t agree to a Partnership Agreement, this will raise serious questions about the State and Territory governments’ commitment to Rudd’s Trade Training Centres.