JENNY MCALLISTER
LABOR SENATOR FOR NSW

DAMIAN WOOD
LABOR CANDIDATE FOR COWPER

TURNBULL GOVERNMENT CUTS TO SKILLS AND TRAINING 

Senator for NSW Jenny McAllister and Labor candidate Damian Wood have met with staff at Port Macquarie TAFE today to hear about the impact of the Abbott-Turnbull Government’s cuts to skills and training.

The Liberals have cut $2.5 billion from skills and training over the past two years, including a $1 billion cut to apprentice programs and apprenticeship support.

The number of young Australians taking up apprenticeships has fallen dramatically as a result of the Abbott-Turnbull Government’s cuts.

There were 417,700 apprentices in training across Australia in September, falling to 295,300 by September 2015.

“The Liberals have completely ignored the cries from industry, workers and the community by refusing to invest in the skills of our future workforce,” said Labor Candidate for Cowper, Damian Wood.

Peak bodies such as the Australian Industry Group have been clearly telling the Government:

“Apprentices provide vital skills to key parts of our economy.  Without urgent and meaningful intervention, the apprenticeship system in Australia will continue to underperform and fail to deliver for business and the community.”

Innes Willox, Ai Group Chief Executive, 14 April 2016

The Turnbull Government slashed another $247 million from skills and training in the Federal Budget and failed to introduce any new initiatives to help people get the qualifications they need to access quality jobs and long-term careers.

Senator Jenny McAllister said the Liberals’ are not providing the funding required for the skills and training young people need to get a job.

“The Liberals have refused to invest in apprentices and trainees in the Federal Budget – instead they prefer an inferior internship model that doesn’t provide meaningful training.

“For all their talk about transitioning economies, innovation and jobs of the future they have completely failed to invest in a critical enabling sector – vocational education and training.”