Labor’s plan for big boost in training

New ALP leader’s speech reveals:

REBECCA White has used her first major speech as State Opposition Leader to pledge an overhaul of skills training and apprenticeships if Labor wins government.

In an address to the party faithful and business leaders in Hobart, Ms White said Labor would endeavour to fix problems with TAFE and Drysdale and provide employers with more incentives to hire apprentices.

Labor would create industry advisory councils from key sectors to advise on training spending, and would bring Skills Tasmania into the Department of Education.

The number of Tasmanians in apprenticeships and traineeships has plummeted over the past five years in line with national trends.

Businesses have blamed rising costs as a barrier to hiring more apprentices, with the state’s construction industry estimating it could take on another 900 apprentices if employers could afford it.

“Labor will introduce an Apprenticeship Bonus payment scheme that will provide a total of $3000 per position to businesses of all shapes and sizes that put on new apprenti- ces and trainees.

“The scheme will provide $1500 to offset the upfront costs of appointing a new apprentice or training and an additional $1500 upon successful completion,” Ms White said.

“The TAFE system is broken and Labor needs to accept some responsibility for that. We will also take responsibility for fixing it.”

Ms White’s ascension to the leadership last month came after the latest polling which showed Tasmania was headed for another hung parliament.

Labor’s decision to replace former leader Bryan Green, who struggled in the preferred premier stakes, has given Labor a fighting chance at the election due in March next year.

Ms White, who spoke about juggling her new role and a young family, said she was ready for the challenge.

“For those of us with children, we don’t leave our kids each morning easily,” she said.

“But we do it with purpose — our work matters. I have been reminding myself of this a lot lately when I leave my daughter, Mia, sometimes not to see her until the next day.

“It is my biggest regret but equally my biggest motivation. I want our state to be a place of hope for her and for all children.”

Premier Will Hodgman said the industry advisory councils would simply create another layer of bureaucracy.

Next month’s State Budget would include “real money going into real programs” for apprenticeships, he said.