❓ Ms. Sanderson questions the Premier on how changes to the Building and Construction Industry Training Fund will increase training opportunities. The Premier highlights the extension of the levy to the resources sector and criticises the previous government's record on TAFE fees and apprenticeship numbers.
AnsweredQoN 721Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BUILDING AND
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING FUND
721. Ms A. SANDERSON to the Premier:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to supporting trainees and apprentices and
delivering a skilled workforce through its comprehensive plan for jobs. Can the
Premier update the house on how changes to the Building and Construction
Industry Training Fund will drive more training opportunities for Western Australians?
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING FUND
721. Ms A. SANDERSON to the Premier:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to supporting trainees and apprentices and
delivering a skilled workforce through its comprehensive plan for jobs. Can the
Premier update the house on how changes to the Building and Construction
Industry Training Fund will drive more training opportunities for Western Australians?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Morley. I am
as keen as she is to ensure that we have a skilled workforce and that Western Australians
are taking advantage of the job opportunities in our state. We have done that
already in the training system by freezing TAFE fees and establishing jobs and
skills centres. I have been opening them around regional and metropolitan Western
Australia over recent months. Last Monday, we took another step forward in
driving skills and training for Western Australians. The Building and
Construction Industry Training Fund levy started being applied to the resources
industry—something no government has been able to achieve in Western Australia
in the last 30 years. No-one has put this in place over the last 30 years.
Mr V.A. Catania : What is the
percentage?
Mr M. McGOWAN : It is an
infinitely greater percentage than what the previous government had. Whatever
the figure is, it is infinitely greater than that of the previous government.
This change will see the resources industry contribute to the cost of the
training that it has long benefited from. We have seen the resources industry,
a great industry in Western Australia, not contributing to this levy, which has
been in place since around 1990. It has been paid for largely by the
construction industry in the Perth central business district. It has ensured
that a range of people are supported in their training, and the construction
industry in Western Australia has paid it. Under the new approach of this
government, mines, liquefied natural gas plants, gas and petroleum rigs,
production platforms, pipelines, processing facilities, rail lines, ports and
airfields put together by the mining industry will pay into the Building and
Construction Industry Training Fund and support the quality of training of Western
Australians.
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Considering
all the interjections I am getting, I feel compelled to say something about the
Liberals and Nationals.
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
The SPEAKER : Premier, I wanted
to let you continue, but, first, member for North West Central, I call you to
order for the first and second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Under the
existing scheme, some employers can receive up to $25 000 in grants and bonuses
per apprentice. What did we see under the last government? Considering I am
getting all this interjecting, what did we see? The deputy Liberal leader, the
member for Scarborough, increased TAFE fees by up to 500 per cent.
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Between March
2016 and March 2017, 500 per cent increases—that is her record.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : That is not
true.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I am afraid it
is. We might have to refer the member to the Procedure and Privileges Committee
for that. Between March 2016 and March 2017, the number of people starting
apprenticeships in the building and construction industry crashed by 37 per
cent. The number of people undertaking traineeships in that area crashed by 11 per
cent. By this simple measure—a difficult measure to put in place—we
have ensured that the mining and oil and gas sectors in Western Australia will
contribute to training Western Australians. This is something no government has
been able to do in this state for 30 years.
as keen as she is to ensure that we have a skilled workforce and that Western Australians
are taking advantage of the job opportunities in our state. We have done that
already in the training system by freezing TAFE fees and establishing jobs and
skills centres. I have been opening them around regional and metropolitan Western
Australia over recent months. Last Monday, we took another step forward in
driving skills and training for Western Australians. The Building and
Construction Industry Training Fund levy started being applied to the resources
industry—something no government has been able to achieve in Western Australia
in the last 30 years. No-one has put this in place over the last 30 years.
Mr V.A. Catania : What is the
percentage?
Mr M. McGOWAN : It is an
infinitely greater percentage than what the previous government had. Whatever
the figure is, it is infinitely greater than that of the previous government.
This change will see the resources industry contribute to the cost of the
training that it has long benefited from. We have seen the resources industry,
a great industry in Western Australia, not contributing to this levy, which has
been in place since around 1990. It has been paid for largely by the
construction industry in the Perth central business district. It has ensured
that a range of people are supported in their training, and the construction
industry in Western Australia has paid it. Under the new approach of this
government, mines, liquefied natural gas plants, gas and petroleum rigs,
production platforms, pipelines, processing facilities, rail lines, ports and
airfields put together by the mining industry will pay into the Building and
Construction Industry Training Fund and support the quality of training of Western
Australians.
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Considering
all the interjections I am getting, I feel compelled to say something about the
Liberals and Nationals.
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
The SPEAKER : Premier, I wanted
to let you continue, but, first, member for North West Central, I call you to
order for the first and second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Under the
existing scheme, some employers can receive up to $25 000 in grants and bonuses
per apprentice. What did we see under the last government? Considering I am
getting all this interjecting, what did we see? The deputy Liberal leader, the
member for Scarborough, increased TAFE fees by up to 500 per cent.
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Between March
2016 and March 2017, 500 per cent increases—that is her record.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : That is not
true.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I am afraid it
is. We might have to refer the member to the Procedure and Privileges Committee
for that. Between March 2016 and March 2017, the number of people starting
apprenticeships in the building and construction industry crashed by 37 per
cent. The number of people undertaking traineeships in that area crashed by 11 per
cent. By this simple measure—a difficult measure to put in place—we
have ensured that the mining and oil and gas sectors in Western Australia will
contribute to training Western Australians. This is something no government has
been able to do in this state for 30 years.
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