Question Time

Hospitality Group Training

Mr PISONI (Unley) (14:08): My question is to the Premier: can the Premier inform the house whether any of the 100 apprentices who lost their jobs following the collapse of Hospitality Group Training in February are still without work despite the Premier's assurances in February that, 'Where the host employers don't want to place them directly, we are offering the assistance of the South Australian government'?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:08): I am not aware of the answer to that question. We made that offer in good faith at that time, and I certainly am not aware of any personal approach that has been made by the hospitality and training organisation to assist them in that regard. I think, at the time, we had in mind a number of the hospitality organisations that we run, such as the Convention Centre and other institutions that may have assisted, or others that we may have been able to influence to take on some of these apprentices so that they could complete their training. I am not aware whether any of them have been unable to complete their apprenticeship and I am not familiar with any approach that has been made to us, but I will certainly take that on notice and bring back an answer.