WorkReady

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (14:45): My question is to the Minister for Regional Development. What is the outcome of the regional impact assessment on the WorkReady program undertaken as required under his agreement with the government? Is he aware that funded cert. III training places in agriculture will drop from more than 300 per year to just 20 new enrolments at the Mount Gambier TAFE?

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Finniss is called to order.

Mr Whetstone interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey is warned for the second and final time.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:46): What is said to be a consequence of the WorkReady introduction of reforms is not actually a consequence of the WorkReady reforms. It is, indeed, a consequence of the end of a time-limited program, which is the Skills for All program.

Ms Chapman: Where's your regional impact statement?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Regional impact statements are not to be applied to the end of a program that has a beginning and an end. As it happened, though, a brief regional impact statement was undertaken but not of the same depth and analysis that is ordinarily undertaken for a program that is a change in policy.

This is the beginning and end of an existing policy. It is an entirely different matter from a government decision to close a service or introduce a new scheme which has the effect of, essentially, closing off some former arrangement. This is the beginning and end of something which was announced which had a beginning and an end. Therefore—

Ms Chapman: Well, what did it say?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: The reality is that this is a program that has actually run its course. It's been highly beneficial and, indeed, I mentioned the figures earlier. This scheme actually had massive benefits for regional areas. The investment in regional South Australia increased by 62.1 per cent. The investment in non-metropolitan regions accounted for more than 25 per cent of total investment in Skills for All, so this was a highly beneficial program for the regions. Sadly, it's not capable of continuing. That will have an effect but it's not an effect that has been the subject of the introduction, a closure, or some cut in government services.