❓ Question regarding the McGowan government's TAFE fee reduction and its impact on job creation in the disability care sector. The Premier's answer highlights job growth, criticises the previous government's TAFE fee increases, and references an interview with the Leader of the Opposition.
AnsweredQoN 896Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DISABILITY CARE —
TAFE COURSES
896. Ms J.M. FREEMAN to the Premier:
On behalf of the member for Southern
River, I welcome the inaugural student councillors from Southern Grove Primary
School who are in the gallery, and on behalf of the member for Belmont, I welcome
the year 6 leadership team from St Augustine's Primary School; their
teacher, Robert; and principal, John Ryan.
I refer to the more than 50 000 jobs
created since March 2017 and the McGowan Labor government's commitment
to continuing to create more employment opportunities for Western Australians.
Can the Premier outline to the house how this government's decision to
significantly reduce TAFE fees will help those looking for jobs in the
high-demand area of disability care, as well as ensuring that our disability
sector has a highly skilled workforce?
TAFE COURSES
896. Ms J.M. FREEMAN to the Premier:
On behalf of the member for Southern
River, I welcome the inaugural student councillors from Southern Grove Primary
School who are in the gallery, and on behalf of the member for Belmont, I welcome
the year 6 leadership team from St Augustine's Primary School; their
teacher, Robert; and principal, John Ryan.
I refer to the more than 50 000 jobs
created since March 2017 and the McGowan Labor government's commitment
to continuing to create more employment opportunities for Western Australians.
Can the Premier outline to the house how this government's decision to
significantly reduce TAFE fees will help those looking for jobs in the
high-demand area of disability care, as well as ensuring that our disability
sector has a highly skilled workforce?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Mirrabooka.
On behalf of the member for Baldivis, I acknowledge the members of the
Rockingham Business Sundowners Breakfast Club who have come to Parliament today
to enjoy the company of the member for Baldivis.
Today we saw some encouraging
figures on employment for Western Australians. Once again, the unemployment rate in Western Australia has dropped to the third
lowest in Australia. We now have the third lowest rate in Australia.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bateman!
Mr M. McGOWAN : When we came
to office, Western Australia had the worst unemployment rate in Australia, but
now it is the third best in Australia. The number of unemployed people has
fallen, the full-time employment rate is up, and since we have been in office,
more than 50 000 jobs have been created. Of course, we have the highest
participation rate in Australia. In the last two years of the last government,
30 000 jobs were lost in Western Australia. We had the first recession in the
history of the state under the last government. We had the worst financial
management and the worst recession in the history of the state—that was
its record.
One of the things we have been
doing in the last couple of weeks to create jobs in Western Australia is to
target investments in maintenance in schools and in hospitals, which is a direct
and large employer. Earlier this week, we announced our important training
initiative to reduce TAFE fees. One sector that will be looking for employees
is the disability sector. As we move to the full rollout of the National
Disability Insurance Scheme, we can expect to see, and all the predictions are,
that a range of new employees will be required in the disability sector in the
city, the regions and remote communities in Western Australia. The expectation
is that the number of jobs in the sector will go from 10 500 full-time jobs to
20 000 jobs over the next four years and the sector's contribution to
the economy will roughly double. We are putting more effort into training
people to work in the disability sector. That is one area in which we have cut
TAFE fees, as outlined in the announcement earlier this week.
It
is interesting that during the Leader of the Opposition's time as
Minister for Training and Workforce Development , the cost to do a certificate
IV in disability went from $1 270 to more than $2 113 and the cost to do a certificate
III in individual support to assist an individual with a disability went from
$1 080 to more than $1 800. These are not highly paid people when they complete
their course. It was a massive disincentive to people undertaking that sort of
training. I noticed in the press today the Leader of the Opposition's
claims that she had nothing to do with all these changes that happened in her
portfolio while she was the minister. She does not know anything about the 510 per
cent increase in the cost of many courses that occurred in Western Australia. However,
I also note that there has been a change of position. Yesterday or the day
before, the Leader of the Opposition was interviewed by Gareth Parker, and I think
it is worth putting on the record what was said. Gareth Parker, a well-known
and respected radio personality, said this to the Leader of the Opposition —
Right, but fees went up enormously
under the Barnett Government.
Liza Harvey responded —
They�
they did. They did. But� and we held it steady because we wanted to maintain
the TAFE enrolments.
Gareth Parker again —
You held it steady after you hiked
them.
Liza Harvey's response was
yes. Gareth Parker then said —
Right. But do you think that that
would have turned parents off, putting up TAFE fees in the way that your former
Government did?
Liza Harvey responded —
Oh, well we got turfed out in March
2017, so evidently, you know�
Today, the Leader of the Opposition
claimed no knowledge of the massive increase in TAFE fees that happened on her
watch. Yesterday, she acknowledged that that was what she did. Our Labor
government wants to train Western Australians, and that is what we are doing.
We are putting in more effort and initiatives than ever before and we have cut
fees for 34 important courses, including in the important area of disabilities,
to make sure Western Australians are trained up for those jobs that are coming
down the pipeline.
On behalf of the member for Baldivis, I acknowledge the members of the
Rockingham Business Sundowners Breakfast Club who have come to Parliament today
to enjoy the company of the member for Baldivis.
Today we saw some encouraging
figures on employment for Western Australians. Once again, the unemployment rate in Western Australia has dropped to the third
lowest in Australia. We now have the third lowest rate in Australia.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bateman!
Mr M. McGOWAN : When we came
to office, Western Australia had the worst unemployment rate in Australia, but
now it is the third best in Australia. The number of unemployed people has
fallen, the full-time employment rate is up, and since we have been in office,
more than 50 000 jobs have been created. Of course, we have the highest
participation rate in Australia. In the last two years of the last government,
30 000 jobs were lost in Western Australia. We had the first recession in the
history of the state under the last government. We had the worst financial
management and the worst recession in the history of the state—that was
its record.
One of the things we have been
doing in the last couple of weeks to create jobs in Western Australia is to
target investments in maintenance in schools and in hospitals, which is a direct
and large employer. Earlier this week, we announced our important training
initiative to reduce TAFE fees. One sector that will be looking for employees
is the disability sector. As we move to the full rollout of the National
Disability Insurance Scheme, we can expect to see, and all the predictions are,
that a range of new employees will be required in the disability sector in the
city, the regions and remote communities in Western Australia. The expectation
is that the number of jobs in the sector will go from 10 500 full-time jobs to
20 000 jobs over the next four years and the sector's contribution to
the economy will roughly double. We are putting more effort into training
people to work in the disability sector. That is one area in which we have cut
TAFE fees, as outlined in the announcement earlier this week.
It
is interesting that during the Leader of the Opposition's time as
Minister for Training and Workforce Development , the cost to do a certificate
IV in disability went from $1 270 to more than $2 113 and the cost to do a certificate
III in individual support to assist an individual with a disability went from
$1 080 to more than $1 800. These are not highly paid people when they complete
their course. It was a massive disincentive to people undertaking that sort of
training. I noticed in the press today the Leader of the Opposition's
claims that she had nothing to do with all these changes that happened in her
portfolio while she was the minister. She does not know anything about the 510 per
cent increase in the cost of many courses that occurred in Western Australia. However,
I also note that there has been a change of position. Yesterday or the day
before, the Leader of the Opposition was interviewed by Gareth Parker, and I think
it is worth putting on the record what was said. Gareth Parker, a well-known
and respected radio personality, said this to the Leader of the Opposition —
Right, but fees went up enormously
under the Barnett Government.
Liza Harvey responded —
They�
they did. They did. But� and we held it steady because we wanted to maintain
the TAFE enrolments.
Gareth Parker again —
You held it steady after you hiked
them.
Liza Harvey's response was
yes. Gareth Parker then said —
Right. But do you think that that
would have turned parents off, putting up TAFE fees in the way that your former
Government did?
Liza Harvey responded —
Oh, well we got turfed out in March
2017, so evidently, you know�
Today, the Leader of the Opposition
claimed no knowledge of the massive increase in TAFE fees that happened on her
watch. Yesterday, she acknowledged that that was what she did. Our Labor
government wants to train Western Australians, and that is what we are doing.
We are putting in more effort and initiatives than ever before and we have cut
fees for 34 important courses, including in the important area of disabilities,
to make sure Western Australians are trained up for those jobs that are coming
down the pipeline.
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