Ministerial Statement

Skilling Australians Fund

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:01): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I am very pleased to announce that the government has entered into an agreement with the commonwealth to increase funding for apprenticeships and traineeships in South Australia. I have signed an agreement with the Prime Minister to access the Skilling Australians Fund, securing $87 million over the next four years. This fund will be complemented by $100 million of state funding. While I had the privilege of signing the agreement—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —I congratulated the Minister for Industry and Skills on negotiating this deal on behalf of the government. His work will deliver benefits to South Australians who are looking to upskill and undertake vocational education for years to come.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier has leave.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: The Skilling Australians Fund prioritises apprenticeships and traineeships, including occupations in high demand, occupations with reliance on skilled migration pathways, industries and sectors of future growth, trade apprenticeships and apprenticeships and traineeships in regional and rural areas. As a government, we are placing greater priority on training closely aligned to jobs, including apprenticeships and traineeships, and strengthening the link between industry and vocational education and training.

The government is committed to ensuring that our skills investment is aligned to jobs in demand. This is reflected in our recent release of the Subsidised Training List for 2018-19. The Department for Industry and Skills has consulted a wide range of industry associations and employers on how the fund should be implemented to increase apprenticeship and traineeship commencements.

Engagement with industry and employers to design projects that meet their needs and grow the number of apprentices is a critical element to our approach in achieving the target. This agreement is another example of how having a mature, working relationship with the commonwealth can benefit the state, and I look forward to seeing it rolled out to unlock opportunities for South Australians.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the Minister for Industry and Skills, I call to order the following members: the member for West Torrens and the member for Ramsay.