Trade training programs miss out on almost $1b

AUSTRALIAN apprentices and training programs have been short-changed almost $1 billion of federal funding in the past five years.

New Education Department figures reveal a gap of about $919 million between the amount budgeted for a series of vocational education programs over five years from 2014, compared to what was actually spent on the programs.

Federal Labor senators will question department officials and the Government about the underspend in a Senate estimates hearing today.

It includes less money than forecast on programs such as trade support loans, which trainees can get to help them with everyday costs while they do an apprenticeship.

“Is it any wonder that under Scott Morrison our TAFEs are in disrepair and apprentice and trainee numbers have fallen off a cliff,” Opposition education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek said.

She said if the Liberals didn’t fix the skills crisis “we could be looking at the extinction of the Australian tradie”.

Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie, who last week warned the Government her support on controversial legislation in the future would hinge on whether it stumped up an extra $52 million for Tasmanian TAFEs, said she was “appalled” at the underspend.

“It’s very worrying that the

Government hasn’t invested to arrest the decline in enrolments happening in plain sight,” she said. “I have to ask what are we doing for our kids in regional Australia — apparently bloody nothing.”

She slammed both Labor and the Coalition for axing a $4 billion fund for education projects last week to put the money towards a new natural disaster relief fund.

Employment Minister Michaelia Cash dismissed suggestions money had been taken away from training.

“The figures represent underspends which come from demand-driven programs in vocational education and training,” she said. It was not a cut but an indication there was less demand than forecast.