❓ The Minister for Energy outlines government initiatives to upskill local workers in the energy sector, particularly regarding standalone power systems, through TAFE programs and collaboration with utilities and training councils.
AnsweredQoN 1057Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES —
TRAINING
1057. MR S.J. PRICE to the Minister for Energy:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's unprecedented commitment to training in Western Australia,
which is demonstrated through its significant investment in TAFE and its
decision to halve TAFE fees for high-priority courses. Can the minister update
the house on how this government is ensuring that local workers in the energy
sector have the skills and training needed to service our rapidly changing
electricity networks?
TRAINING
1057. MR S.J. PRICE to the Minister for Energy:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's unprecedented commitment to training in Western Australia,
which is demonstrated through its significant investment in TAFE and its
decision to halve TAFE fees for high-priority courses. Can the minister update
the house on how this government is ensuring that local workers in the energy
sector have the skills and training needed to service our rapidly changing
electricity networks?
AnswerView source ↗
I am very pleased to answer a very
sensible question from the member for Forrestfield. I note that the member for Forrestfield
comes to the Parliament having had a history of working on the tools in
industry. He had a useful life before he came into the Parliament—it is
not like he was a banker or something like that before he got here. He played a
useful role in society.
Several members interjected.
Mr
W.J. JOHNSTON : The energy sector
has experienced rapid transformation—not just here in Western Australia, but also worldwide. It is important that we have a training system that
responds to the needs of this transformation of the industry. Part of that is
that we are rolling out standalone power systems in Western Australia. We are
the centre of the globe for standalone power
systems. These products are being manufactured here in Western Australia and we expect up to 20 000 of them to be rolled out in the next 10 years. We
have to make sure that we have a workforce ready for that. On 10 November this
year, 12 workers from Western Power and Horizon Power started a 12-month
program at North Metropolitan TAFE to become trade-qualified electrical
fitters. They are cable joiners and linesmen who work for those two companies.
They are coming from our government-owned trading enterprises to our
government-owned training provider to work on this important upskilling. This
is making sure that we have the skills that are required for this new industry
around the globe, which is starting here in Western Australia. The program is a
collaboration between TAFE, Horizon Power, Western Power and the Western Australian
Utilities, Engineering, Electrical and Automotive Training Council.
The standalone power systems are
being rolled out across regional Western Australia, starting in Esperance. I was
very pleased recently to go to Esperance to formally launch the first of those
standalone systems, and I must report back how strongly supportive the
customers were of those facilities, which hold the opportunity to improve
reliability and reduce costs. On 11 November, I was very pleased to go to North
Metropolitan TAFE, along with the Minister for Education and Training, Hon Sue
Ellery, to meet with 12 of the trainees who are already working for Horizon
Power and Western Power. I was very pleased to talk to these guys, who are from
regional Western Australia, including Albany, Mr Speaker. They are being
upskilled and will go from being linesmen and cable joiners to qualified
electrical fitters so that they can work on every element of the standalone
power systems. I note that a group of Western Power workers have been doing a short
course and although it does not give them an electrical fitter licence, it
gives them greater skills for this new energy future. This is really good news
and the best news of all is that this training program is a globally leading
program that is being done right here in Western Australia by Western Australians.
sensible question from the member for Forrestfield. I note that the member for Forrestfield
comes to the Parliament having had a history of working on the tools in
industry. He had a useful life before he came into the Parliament—it is
not like he was a banker or something like that before he got here. He played a
useful role in society.
Several members interjected.
Mr
W.J. JOHNSTON : The energy sector
has experienced rapid transformation—not just here in Western Australia, but also worldwide. It is important that we have a training system that
responds to the needs of this transformation of the industry. Part of that is
that we are rolling out standalone power systems in Western Australia. We are
the centre of the globe for standalone power
systems. These products are being manufactured here in Western Australia and we expect up to 20 000 of them to be rolled out in the next 10 years. We
have to make sure that we have a workforce ready for that. On 10 November this
year, 12 workers from Western Power and Horizon Power started a 12-month
program at North Metropolitan TAFE to become trade-qualified electrical
fitters. They are cable joiners and linesmen who work for those two companies.
They are coming from our government-owned trading enterprises to our
government-owned training provider to work on this important upskilling. This
is making sure that we have the skills that are required for this new industry
around the globe, which is starting here in Western Australia. The program is a
collaboration between TAFE, Horizon Power, Western Power and the Western Australian
Utilities, Engineering, Electrical and Automotive Training Council.
The standalone power systems are
being rolled out across regional Western Australia, starting in Esperance. I was
very pleased recently to go to Esperance to formally launch the first of those
standalone systems, and I must report back how strongly supportive the
customers were of those facilities, which hold the opportunity to improve
reliability and reduce costs. On 11 November, I was very pleased to go to North
Metropolitan TAFE, along with the Minister for Education and Training, Hon Sue
Ellery, to meet with 12 of the trainees who are already working for Horizon
Power and Western Power. I was very pleased to talk to these guys, who are from
regional Western Australia, including Albany, Mr Speaker. They are being
upskilled and will go from being linesmen and cable joiners to qualified
electrical fitters so that they can work on every element of the standalone
power systems. I note that a group of Western Power workers have been doing a short
course and although it does not give them an electrical fitter licence, it
gives them greater skills for this new energy future. This is really good news
and the best news of all is that this training program is a globally leading
program that is being done right here in Western Australia by Western Australians.
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