Bushfire Recovery Support

Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (17:46): My question is to the Minister for Innovation and Skills. Can the minister please update the house on how the state government is supporting the skills and workforce needs of businesses impacted by the recent bushfires?

The Hon. D.G. PISONI (Unley—Minister for Innovation and Skills) (17:46): May I thank the member for Narungga for his interest in his electorate and, of course, those in regional South Australia. Supporting the skills and workforce requirements of business and industry impacted by the recent critical bushfires is an important part of the recovery. I have been advised that as of 29 January there are 90 employers employing 144 apprentices and trainees—36 on Kangaroo Island and 108 in the Adelaide Hills—who potentially have been impacted.

The Department for Innovation and Skills advises that no apprentices or trainees employed within a bushfire-affected area have had their training contracts terminated in the period since the fires commenced. We have put arrangements in place to support employers and apprentices and their trainees, including those employers who cannot currently offer their apprentices or trainees on-the-job training due to the effect the bushfires have had on their businesses.

There are several options open to those employers, putting the apprenticeship or the traineeship on hold for up to 90 days—this is three times longer than is normally permitted—and consideration will be given in each circumstance. We are very keen to keep the options for these apprentices open. Those options are very limited on Kangaroo Island because of the devastation that we have seen. Those businesses that are out of business because they have been directly affected have also had a significant impact on those businesses that haven't been directly affected because of the nature of the island. So moving from one business to another to move your trainee or your apprentice or to move for a job is very limited on Kangaroo Island.

We are providing flexibility for apprentices or trainees to undertake off-the-job training until the employer is ready for them to resume duties at work and, if appropriate, transferring the apprentice or trainee to another employer, including a group training organisation and potentially hosting them back when they are able to do so. In partnership with employers, the state government is exploring new training opportunities to support small businesses and industry such as in tourism and revegetation.

Importantly, the Department for Innovation and Skills will be responsive to emerging skills needs to support the recovery rebuild. There is a lot more work to do in that space. The department is a member of the state government's consequence group which is ensuring that longer term strategic responses are developed to assist with recovery efforts, including having a focus on small business and its workforce.