❓ The Premier outlines the government's initiatives in collaboration with the resources sector to enhance skills and create employment, particularly in the Pilbara, focusing on automation training at South Metropolitan TAFE and Karratha Senior High School. The answer also criticises the previous government's TAFE policies.
AnsweredQoN 423Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SOUTH METROPOLITAN TAFE
423. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Premier:
Can the Premier update the house on
how the McGowan Labor government is working with the resources sector to grow Western
Australia's skilled workforce and create more employment opportunities
for local workers, particularly those in the Pilbara?
423. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Premier:
Can the Premier update the house on
how the McGowan Labor government is working with the resources sector to grow Western
Australia's skilled workforce and create more employment opportunities
for local workers, particularly those in the Pilbara?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Pilbara for
the question. There is no better and stronger advocate for jobs and the
workforce in the Pilbara than the member for Pilbara.
Today,
there was another demonstration of this government's commitment to
working with the resources sector to create local employment and local jobs in Western
Australia. This morning, together with the Minister for Education and Training
and representatives of Rio Tinto, we launched two new groundbreaking courses in
automation and autonomous workplace operations that will be delivered at South
Metropolitan TAFE and high schools across the state. As we know, a range of
activities across the resources sector, but in other parts of the economy as
well, are now being run autonomously. That development has been ongoing for
some years and I want to make sure that Western Australian school students and
TAFE students and people who want to retrain will have the opportunity to engage
in this component of the workforce. We are ensuring that schools will have that
opportunity, including Karratha Senior High School in the member for Pilbara's
electorate. It will provide an opportunity for workers to upgrade their skills
and learn about automation and how to operate the technology. I must say, when
I was at the event this morning, some of the technology that is being taught to
the students is simply extraordinary.
We are very pleased that we have
been able to deliver this, working cooperatively with a range of businesses
across the state; also working cooperatively with TAFE, the Department of
Training and Workforce Development and the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science
and Innovation and the like. We are also working with industry to create a pipeline
of skilled local workers for our Pilbara collaboration charter. The labour
market review for the Pilbara found there is a requirement for additional
mechanical engineers and electricians. From next year, year 11 students at
Karratha Senior High School will be able to obtain a pre-apprenticeship qualification
as an electrotechnology electrician or in a mechanical engineering trade. That
is another thing we are offering the students at Karratha. We are working
cooperatively with resources companies, including BHP, Chevron, CITIC, FMG, Rio
Tinto, Roy Hill, Woodside and Yara. They
have all committed to interviewing every student who completes these
pre-apprenticeship courses, and that will place those students in the
best position to obtain a job with those companies. This is the type of
initiative that employers have been calling for across Western Australia.
It is true that we are using TAFE
effectively to provide Western Australians with these courses and job
opportunities. This government froze TAFE fees when it came to office. Members
might recall that under the last government, particularly under the member for
Scarborough, TAFE fees went up by 500 per cent. There were families across Western
Australia who could not afford for their children to leave high school and go
and study at TAFE. That was a disgraceful situation and damaging to the
employment prospects of young Western Australians.
I will close on this point: this
government is a friend of local jobs, a friend of the resources industry and a friend
of TAFE, as opposed to the now very quiet opposition, tapping away on their
phones over there; I note that.
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on, we
have one! But it is a very quiet opposition; members opposite are not saying
anything. The previous government decimated TAFE —
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Mr Speaker, I have
been interjected on!
Is the member for Bateman the person
that the member for Scarborough was referring to this morning when she
described the person who is saying that she has a secret deal with the Leader
of the Opposition as a coward? Is the member for Bateman that person? Is he who
the member for Scarborough was referring to? Is he that person? Who was the
member for Scarborough referring to?
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
The SPEAKER : Hold on a minute;
you have to get up and say what your point of order is, not just shout across
the chamber. I was waiting for everyone so they could hear what you are saying.
Point of Order
Mr V.A.
CATANIA : The Premier is clearly not answering his own question from
his own side.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, it is
a point of order. I will hear it in silence.
Mr V.A. CATANIA : The Premier
is clearly not answering the question asked by his own side, so can I ask you
to ask him to answer the question, please.
The SPEAKER : That is not a point
of order.
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE :
Further to the point of order, under standing order 78, page 46, ''Answers
to be relevant'', an answer must be relevant to the question.
The SPEAKER : I am sure the
Premier will get back to the point.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr M. McGOWAN : I will, Mr
Speaker, but I was interjected on by the member for Bateman. As we know, the
member for Scarborough and other members of the opposition need to say whether
there is a secret deal to transfer the leadership. What is the story with the
secret deal?
Mr A. Krsticevic interject.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : In political
life, when you are dealing with the leadership of the Liberal Party, you need
to be transparent and you need to be honest. What is the story?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : I will close
on that. I just make the point that the opposition will not answer the
question: What is the deal? What have you agreed to? Why is the member for
Scarborough sitting there, looking so dark? Why do you not answer the questions
and tell the people of Western Australia what you are up to?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : I thought I was
on my feet, but I could not have been, because no-one kept quiet. Is that the
end, Premier?
Mr M. McGOWAN : I think so.
the question. There is no better and stronger advocate for jobs and the
workforce in the Pilbara than the member for Pilbara.
Today,
there was another demonstration of this government's commitment to
working with the resources sector to create local employment and local jobs in Western
Australia. This morning, together with the Minister for Education and Training
and representatives of Rio Tinto, we launched two new groundbreaking courses in
automation and autonomous workplace operations that will be delivered at South
Metropolitan TAFE and high schools across the state. As we know, a range of
activities across the resources sector, but in other parts of the economy as
well, are now being run autonomously. That development has been ongoing for
some years and I want to make sure that Western Australian school students and
TAFE students and people who want to retrain will have the opportunity to engage
in this component of the workforce. We are ensuring that schools will have that
opportunity, including Karratha Senior High School in the member for Pilbara's
electorate. It will provide an opportunity for workers to upgrade their skills
and learn about automation and how to operate the technology. I must say, when
I was at the event this morning, some of the technology that is being taught to
the students is simply extraordinary.
We are very pleased that we have
been able to deliver this, working cooperatively with a range of businesses
across the state; also working cooperatively with TAFE, the Department of
Training and Workforce Development and the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science
and Innovation and the like. We are also working with industry to create a pipeline
of skilled local workers for our Pilbara collaboration charter. The labour
market review for the Pilbara found there is a requirement for additional
mechanical engineers and electricians. From next year, year 11 students at
Karratha Senior High School will be able to obtain a pre-apprenticeship qualification
as an electrotechnology electrician or in a mechanical engineering trade. That
is another thing we are offering the students at Karratha. We are working
cooperatively with resources companies, including BHP, Chevron, CITIC, FMG, Rio
Tinto, Roy Hill, Woodside and Yara. They
have all committed to interviewing every student who completes these
pre-apprenticeship courses, and that will place those students in the
best position to obtain a job with those companies. This is the type of
initiative that employers have been calling for across Western Australia.
It is true that we are using TAFE
effectively to provide Western Australians with these courses and job
opportunities. This government froze TAFE fees when it came to office. Members
might recall that under the last government, particularly under the member for
Scarborough, TAFE fees went up by 500 per cent. There were families across Western
Australia who could not afford for their children to leave high school and go
and study at TAFE. That was a disgraceful situation and damaging to the
employment prospects of young Western Australians.
I will close on this point: this
government is a friend of local jobs, a friend of the resources industry and a friend
of TAFE, as opposed to the now very quiet opposition, tapping away on their
phones over there; I note that.
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on, we
have one! But it is a very quiet opposition; members opposite are not saying
anything. The previous government decimated TAFE —
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Mr Speaker, I have
been interjected on!
Is the member for Bateman the person
that the member for Scarborough was referring to this morning when she
described the person who is saying that she has a secret deal with the Leader
of the Opposition as a coward? Is the member for Bateman that person? Is he who
the member for Scarborough was referring to? Is he that person? Who was the
member for Scarborough referring to?
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
The SPEAKER : Hold on a minute;
you have to get up and say what your point of order is, not just shout across
the chamber. I was waiting for everyone so they could hear what you are saying.
Point of Order
Mr V.A.
CATANIA : The Premier is clearly not answering his own question from
his own side.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, it is
a point of order. I will hear it in silence.
Mr V.A. CATANIA : The Premier
is clearly not answering the question asked by his own side, so can I ask you
to ask him to answer the question, please.
The SPEAKER : That is not a point
of order.
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE :
Further to the point of order, under standing order 78, page 46, ''Answers
to be relevant'', an answer must be relevant to the question.
The SPEAKER : I am sure the
Premier will get back to the point.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr M. McGOWAN : I will, Mr
Speaker, but I was interjected on by the member for Bateman. As we know, the
member for Scarborough and other members of the opposition need to say whether
there is a secret deal to transfer the leadership. What is the story with the
secret deal?
Mr A. Krsticevic interject.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : In political
life, when you are dealing with the leadership of the Liberal Party, you need
to be transparent and you need to be honest. What is the story?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : I will close
on that. I just make the point that the opposition will not answer the
question: What is the deal? What have you agreed to? Why is the member for
Scarborough sitting there, looking so dark? Why do you not answer the questions
and tell the people of Western Australia what you are up to?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : I thought I was
on my feet, but I could not have been, because no-one kept quiet. Is that the
end, Premier?
Mr M. McGOWAN : I think so.
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