❓ Hon. Ljiljanna Ravlich questions the Minister for Training and Workforce Development about the number of apprentices and trainees in WA compared to when Labor left office. The Minister responds by citing the Global Financial Crisis and government initiatives to improve enrolments.
AnsweredQoN 307Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
APPRENTICES AND TRAINEES — NUMBER IN TRAINING
(1) Why are there now only 38 000 apprentices and trainees in training compared with 38 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? Hon Norman Moore : This is tedious repetition. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : We just need an answer. Hon Peter Collier : What was the last figure? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : My question is — (1) Why are there now only 38 000 apprentices and trainees in training compared with 38 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? (2) Why are there now only 20 000 apprentices in training compared with 23 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? Hon PETER COLLIER
(1) Why are there now only 38 000 apprentices and trainees in training compared with 38 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? Hon Norman Moore : This is tedious repetition. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : We just need an answer. Hon Peter Collier : What was the last figure? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : My question is — (1) Why are there now only 38 000 apprentices and trainees in training compared with 38 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? (2) Why are there now only 20 000 apprentices in training compared with 23 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? Hon PETER COLLIER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich for her question. I always enjoy my banter with Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich. I have what I regard as a very robust and healthy relationship with her. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Don’t overdo it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Really! Is it only one way? Bummer! Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon Norman Moore : This is tedious repetition. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : We just need an answer. Hon Peter Collier : What was the last figure? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : My question is — (1) Why are there now only 38 000 apprentices and trainees in training compared with 38 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? (2) Why are there now only 20 000 apprentices in training compared with 23 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich for her question. I always enjoy my banter with Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich. I have what I regard as a very robust and healthy relationship with her. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Don’t overdo it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Really! Is it only one way? Bummer! Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : We just need an answer. Hon Peter Collier : What was the last figure? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : My question is — (1) Why are there now only 38 000 apprentices and trainees in training compared with 38 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? (2) Why are there now only 20 000 apprentices in training compared with 23 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich for her question. I always enjoy my banter with Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich. I have what I regard as a very robust and healthy relationship with her. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Don’t overdo it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Really! Is it only one way? Bummer! Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon Peter Collier : What was the last figure? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : My question is — (1) Why are there now only 38 000 apprentices and trainees in training compared with 38 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? (2) Why are there now only 20 000 apprentices in training compared with 23 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich for her question. I always enjoy my banter with Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich. I have what I regard as a very robust and healthy relationship with her. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Don’t overdo it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Really! Is it only one way? Bummer! Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : My question is — (1) Why are there now only 38 000 apprentices and trainees in training compared with 38 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? (2) Why are there now only 20 000 apprentices in training compared with 23 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich for her question. I always enjoy my banter with Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich. I have what I regard as a very robust and healthy relationship with her. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Don’t overdo it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Really! Is it only one way? Bummer! Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
(1) Why are there now only 38 000 apprentices and trainees in training compared with 38 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? (2) Why are there now only 20 000 apprentices in training compared with 23 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich for her question. I always enjoy my banter with Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich. I have what I regard as a very robust and healthy relationship with her. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Don’t overdo it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Really! Is it only one way? Bummer! Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
(2) Why are there now only 20 000 apprentices in training compared with 23 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich for her question. I always enjoy my banter with Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich. I have what I regard as a very robust and healthy relationship with her. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Don’t overdo it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Really! Is it only one way? Bummer! Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich for her question. I always enjoy my banter with Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich. I have what I regard as a very robust and healthy relationship with her. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Don’t overdo it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Really! Is it only one way? Bummer! Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
I thank Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich for her question. I always enjoy my banter with Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich. I have what I regard as a very robust and healthy relationship with her. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Don’t overdo it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Really! Is it only one way? Bummer! Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Don’t overdo it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Really! Is it only one way? Bummer! Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Really! Is it only one way? Bummer! Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
(1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon Norman Moore : This is tedious repetition. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : We just need an answer. Hon Peter Collier : What was the last figure? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : My question is — (1) Why are there now only 38 000 apprentices and trainees in training compared with 38 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? (2) Why are there now only 20 000 apprentices in training compared with 23 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich for her question. I always enjoy my banter with Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich. I have what I regard as a very robust and healthy relationship with her. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Don’t overdo it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Really! Is it only one way? Bummer! Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : We just need an answer. Hon Peter Collier : What was the last figure? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : My question is — (1) Why are there now only 38 000 apprentices and trainees in training compared with 38 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? (2) Why are there now only 20 000 apprentices in training compared with 23 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich for her question. I always enjoy my banter with Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich. I have what I regard as a very robust and healthy relationship with her. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Don’t overdo it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Really! Is it only one way? Bummer! Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon Peter Collier : What was the last figure? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : My question is — (1) Why are there now only 38 000 apprentices and trainees in training compared with 38 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? (2) Why are there now only 20 000 apprentices in training compared with 23 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich for her question. I always enjoy my banter with Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich. I have what I regard as a very robust and healthy relationship with her. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Don’t overdo it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Really! Is it only one way? Bummer! Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : My question is — (1) Why are there now only 38 000 apprentices and trainees in training compared with 38 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? (2) Why are there now only 20 000 apprentices in training compared with 23 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich for her question. I always enjoy my banter with Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich. I have what I regard as a very robust and healthy relationship with her. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Don’t overdo it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Really! Is it only one way? Bummer! Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
(1) Why are there now only 38 000 apprentices and trainees in training compared with 38 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? (2) Why are there now only 20 000 apprentices in training compared with 23 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich for her question. I always enjoy my banter with Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich. I have what I regard as a very robust and healthy relationship with her. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Don’t overdo it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Really! Is it only one way? Bummer! Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
(2) Why are there now only 20 000 apprentices in training compared with 23 000 as at September 2008 when Labor left office? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich for her question. I always enjoy my banter with Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich. I have what I regard as a very robust and healthy relationship with her. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Don’t overdo it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Really! Is it only one way? Bummer! Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich for her question. I always enjoy my banter with Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich. I have what I regard as a very robust and healthy relationship with her. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Don’t overdo it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Really! Is it only one way? Bummer! Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
I thank Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich for her question. I always enjoy my banter with Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich. I have what I regard as a very robust and healthy relationship with her. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Don’t overdo it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Really! Is it only one way? Bummer! Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Don’t overdo it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Really! Is it only one way? Bummer! Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Really! Is it only one way? Bummer! Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon Ken Travers : He is going to be depressed all day now. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no; she does not need anyone to hold her hand. I can tell members that she gives as much as she gets! (1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
(1)–(2) It is a fair question. I have to state at the outset that this is not something that relates to Western Australia in isolation. The low point was 37 201 in January 2009. Anyone with an ounce of commonsense would understand why there has been a decline in apprenticeships and traineeships when we had one of the worst global economic crises in the history of the nation. That decline occurred as a result of that. Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon Ken Travers : We did not have a decline in economic activity. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer. You cannot continually interject when you have not heard the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
This was not Western Australia–specific. This was right across the nation; it was international. Unfortunately, one of the first consequences of any economic downturn is that employers put off apprentices. They simply cannot afford to keep apprentices on. That is particularly pertinent for first-year apprentices. Anyone in industry will tell members that. It does not surprise me that in January 2009, right at the peak of the global financial crisis, we had the lowest point in terms of apprentices and trainees. As a direct result of that, we put in place a number of strategies. We provided a $47 million stimulus package to help improve enrolments and the uptake of apprentices. It has been very successful. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Clearly it did not work! Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon Norman Moore : Do you think you can listen for a while? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You have the same figures we left you with! Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
Hon PETER COLLIER : No; not even close. If I could finish, Mr President. I appreciate the interjection because I can go off on another tangent. We have put in a number of strategies. As a direct result of the tremendous initiatives that the Liberal–National government has put in place over the past 12 months—I will not go through the whole lot because I have already been through it about 10 times—we have seen a significant improvement in the uptake of employers taking on apprentices and in the uptake of enrolments by all of our providers. There has been in excess of a 10 per cent increase in enrolments this year. As a direct result of an increase in commencements, as time moves on there will be an improvement in those numbers. At the moment we are looking at 38 537. There has been a significant improvement in that short space of time. The projection for the next financial year, 2010–11, is 39 900. Again that is a significant improvement. I might add that in the 12 months to March 2010 there were 8 142 apprenticeship commencements. Do members know what that is? That is a 22 per cent increase. The writing is on the wall. There has been a significant improvement in commencements. As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
As a direct result of that, as years roll on and as confidence starts to return to the economy, we will find more and more employers taking advantage of the workers’ compensation rebate and more and more workers receiving $4 000 to take on an out-of-contract apprentice. They will come back into the system. We have been very proactive. As a direct result of that, we will turn much more into the upswing in the uptake of apprentices and trainees. We will meet that 39 900 target; I am actually confident we will go beyond that. I am dealing with industry and I am dealing with the training community—there is a great degree of vibrancy in the community. I am very confident that we will not only meet those targets, but also go beyond those targets.
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