Vocational Education and Training

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:30): Supplementary: does the Premier consider that providing the private sector with just one week's notice of these drastic changes to their funding was adequate?

Dr McFetridge: Announce and defend.

The SPEAKER: The member for Morphett is called to order. Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:30): Well, they have had five years' notice. We told them that this was a scheme that had a beginning and an end. We wanted to train 100,000 places. We actually trained, I think, well over 110,000 places, so the scheme continues. Indeed, we continue to support the pipeline of people who are already in their training places, so well beyond the 100,000 commitment.

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Finniss is warned.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: We are still supporting in a subsidised fashion the conclusion of the training processes for those people who have begun their courses, which we think is a generous offer. This is the modern Liberal Party talking about how government should be getting involved in the business of subsidising employers for the question of ensuring that they have their workforces trained.

Well, we are prepared to do that to a certain degree to deal with equity and access issues and where there are shortages and where there is market failure, but we do not think that there is a general role for government picking up where employers should be taking their responsibilities to train their workforces. It is odd that that is being urged upon us by the Liberal Party.

Mr Griffiths interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Goyder is warned.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: We spent hundreds of millions of dollars in investing in infrastructure projects to create jobs, and now we are told that we actually have to train the workers to get those jobs. Give us a break. There is a point at which people need to say that the responsibilities of government end and the responsibilities of business begin. They are making a profit out of getting this work. They do actually make a profit out of getting this work.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader will not blaspheme.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I know that this is not the modern Liberal Party that actually thinks that the government should be involved in handing out corporate welfare to every single business in South Australia, but we do believe—

The SPEAKER: Point of order.

Mr GARDNER: Standing order 98: debate.

The SPEAKER: Yes, the Premier is debating a bit. Can he return to supplying the house with information.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Thank you, sir. It certainly is the case that this is a reform which is directed at improving the quality of our training and further education system in our state.