Vocational Education and Training

Mr WINGARD (Mitchell) (15:00): My question is again to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Are the 10 TAFE-funded positions in Certificate III in Civil Construction and the 40 Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations enough to fill the demand next year that you talk of and also offer new career opportunities to any of the 300 staff recently laid off by GMH?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister Assisting the Minister for Planning, Minister Assisting the Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (15:01): That would be a question more accurately put to the relevant minister, but I reiterate that we are providing billions of dollars over the forward estimates, as we have provided billions of dollars over previous years, to support a level of economic activity and to support rebuilding this state's infrastructure. That means that we are keeping South Australian businesses, South Australian construction firms, in business and keeping them busy. In the last 12 months we have now awarded Bardavcol a third contract related to the South Road upgrade works across both the Torrens to Torrens and Darlington works. That is but one example of the economic benefit of investing in these construction projects.

I will reiterate my point a third time. I am told by my office that I have a time in my diary to see the CCF. I look forward to hearing what their arguments are about why, in addition to spending billions of dollars to support activity and jobs in their sector, they also need us to train workers so that there is a supply of South Australian workers which we require in our contractual arrangements with these firms.