Presented by Robert Clark MP		www.robertclark.net

ALP TAFE Policy removes choice

The Minister for Tertiary Education and Training, Phil Honeywood says the ALP's TAFE policy would remove the right of employers to choose where their apprentices were trained.

Under Labor the number of apprentices and trainees fell from 41,155 in 1982 to 36,248 in 1992: a 13.5% drop.

"The Coalition has turned this disastrous situation around taking the total number of apprentices and trainees to more than 61,000 this year; the most ever," Mr Honeywood said.

Much of the increase in training positions for young people in recent years has arisen because employers are able to train apprentices on the job rather than sending them long distances to TAFE.

In addition to the Government’s $640 million annual training budget, the Coalition has committed to creating training opportunities for an extra 50,000 young apprentices over the next four years, funded by a $93.8 million allocation in this year’s State Budget.

Mr Honeywood said that Labor’s threat to abolish the State Training Board, which provides expert advice to government on the skill needs of employers, shows that Labor has failed to consult with employers in this crucial area.

(News Release, Office of the Minister for Tertiary Education and Training, 27 August 1999)