Training and Skills Funding

Dr HARVEY (Newland) (14:52): Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question is to the Minister for Innovation and Skills. Can the minister update the house about how measures in last night's federal budget further support the state government's—

Ms Hildyard interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Reynell can leave for the rest of question time. I have asked members on my left not to provide commentary when a question is asked. The member for Reynell can leave for the rest of question time, thank you.

The honourable member for Reynell having withdrawn from the chamber:

The SPEAKER: Can I please have the question again?

Dr HARVEY: Yes, thank you, Mr Speaker. My question is to the Minister for Innovation and Skills. Can the minister update the house about how measures in last night's federal budget further support the state government's training initiatives to create new careers?

The Hon. D.G. PISONI (Unley—Minister for Innovation and Skills) (14:52): Yes, I can, and I thank the member for Newland for his question. I know how committed he is to seeing more young South Australians trained for the skills that industry needs here in South Australia. The member for Newland knows that a trained and skilled workforce is vital for our economy. The more skilled workers there are, the better educated and trained—

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Mawson is warned.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —and experienced they are, the greater our income and wealth as an economy here in South Australia, and, of course, the better our standard of living. The Marshall Liberal government is revitalising South Australia's training system to provide more opportunities for more South Australians.

In addition, there is our partnership with the federal government to deliver $203 million for the Skilling South Australia program. The federal government's budget provides additional funding for training through a comprehensive package. In last night's budget, the Morrison government announced the Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow package. The package responds to a number of recommendations from the expert review of Australia's Vocational, Education and Training (VET) system conducted by the Hon. Steven Joyce, providing $525 million nationally from the next financial year.

This consists of several components: $220 million nationally to subsidise 80,000 apprentices in areas of identified skills needs. There are additional subsidies of $4,000 to employers and $2,000 to apprentices. That now takes the employer subsidy of an apprentice to $8,000. There's no doubt that the Joyce review has identified one of the major barriers for employers for taking on apprentices.

There is $67.5 million for 10 national training hubs in regions of high youth unemployment, and we are expecting to have at least one of those in South Australia. There is $132 million to establish a new national skills commission, and we will pilot two new skills organisations and a national career institute, again in response to the Joyce review.

I will continue to work closely with the federal government to ensure that South Australia benefits from these initiatives. The new budget initiatives will greatly assist us to achieve Skilling South Australia's target of 20,800 additional apprentices and trainees over the next four years. In many ways, the findings of the Joyce review confirm what employers in the regions and in the suburbs have been telling the government through the consultation process over the last 12 months, and that is that they want to employ apprentices but they are frustrated by the barriers. I congratulate the Morrison government on removing some of those barriers in last night's budget.