Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 04 Hansard (Thursday, 1 April 2004) . . Page.. 1529 ..

The Australian National Training Authority and the relevant ministers are looking at ways of making that process simpler for everybody. Businesses, industries and governments experience difficulty when dealing with the quality assurance requirements of ANTA and the Commonwealth government. This government is looking at ways of simplifying a complicated process that is diversifying all the time. As user choice increases—and I imagine that it will as one of the Commonwealth government’s requirements under the proposed new ANTA agreement is that user choice be extended—I am sure that the process will become even more complicated.

As additional providers become involved more emphasis will have to be placed on the quality of the programs that are being delivered by them. We will have to reassess the needs of students because the number of training providers is increasing faster than was predicted, and they are being encouraged to do so. I am sure that everyone would like to see less emphasis on paperwork but I do not see that happening in the near future. It is not something that the ACT government is really in a position to control—it is a national issue.

Ministers are interested in reducing some of the emphasis that the Commonwealth government places on promoting user choice and diversity of training options. That will mean that this area will become difficult to monitor which will be of concern to everyone. All in all, the trainee and apprenticeship schemes in the ACT are proceeding very well—much better than anyone thought possible. However, we will have to watch the numbers. If they keep increasing at the rate that has been predicted we will have to decide how to fund them in the future.

MRS BURKE (4.12): I commend Ms Dundas for bringing this matter of public importance to the attention of the House today. A number of industries in the ACT are currently facing skills shortages. The role of this government is to encourage and support ACT businesses to take on trainees and apprentices, so I will certainly be supporting this worthwhile motion. According to the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Australian Industry Group and the Business Council of Australia, skills shortages are becoming an increasingly significant barrier to investment by employers right across the country.

That is also the case in the ACT. The ACT is not an island that is shielded from the problems that are occurring all across Australia. All states and territories and industry are grappling with these problems. Businesses are often pressured and pushed into finding the staff that they need to fill the gaps in new and emerging industries. The three main peak industry groups have highlighted the fact that skills shortages and inappropriate skill sets affect industry’s capacity to conduct research and development and find innovative ways to conduct business in an increasingly competitive world environment.

It is worth noting there that we are talking about skills shortages and inappropriate skill sets, which comes back to the question of employability. Somebody might have all the qualifications in the world, but in this area of vocational education and training, traineeships and apprenticeships come into their own. Members would be aware that one-third of university graduates currently go back into the TAFE system to up-skill in some vocational area. I currently have a delightful student in my office and she has just

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .