Ministerial Statement

South Australian Skills Commissioner Appointment

The Hon. D.G. PISONI (Unley—Minister for Innovation and Skills) (14:04): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: The Marshall Liberal government has today announced Ms Renee Hindmarsh will be the state's first South Australian Skills Commissioner. Ms Hindmarsh will take a leading role in shaping further reform of South Australia's skills training system through her leadership of both the South Australian Skills Commission and Industry Skills Councils. The appointment of Ms Hindmarsh as Skills Commissioner is the latest step in the Marshall Liberal government's reform of skills training to deliver new and growing employment opportunities for South Australians.

It is critical that the skills training we provide meets the needs of the businesses and industries that underpin the South Australian economy and the jobs they create. The Marshall government's $200 million Skilling South Australia program has delivered more than 33,000 apprenticeships and traineeship commencements despite the difficulties created by COVID-19. The Marshall government has passed important changes to training legislation, including the creation of the Skills Commissioner, despite Labor opposing these vital reforms.

Having left South Australia's training system in a shambles, state Labor has adopted an obstructionist stance to every improvement in skills training. The Marshall government will continue to be rebuild South Australia's training system and promote the value of vocational education and training pathways into rewarding careers.

Ms Hindmarsh, as the new South Australian Skills Commissioner, will play an integral role in working with industry, particularly the state government's eight Industry Skills Councils in which she will lead. She will also be South Australia's direct link to the National Skills Commission and advocate for significant national reforms across the skills system. Ms Hindmarsh has been successful in promoting training in her role as South Australia's Training Advocate since February 2019. She will commence in the role as SA Skills Commissioner on Tuesday 9 March.

Through a nationally advertised merit-based recruitment process, commenced in November last year, Ms Hindmarsh has been appointed for a five-year term based on her extensive experience and knowledge of the training system and background in senior executive and advisory positions across the education and public sectors. In her previous role as Executive Director of Australian Technology Network of Universities, she led collaboration between universities to improve outcomes for graduates, led the promotion and enhancement of the profile of the network and led the networks national and international engagement activities.

The outgoing chair of the Training and Skills Commission, Michael Boyce OAM, will continue as a member and is acknowledged and thanked for his ongoing commitment and contribution to the development and promotion of training and skills opportunities across South Australia. Under legislative changes, the functions of the existing Training and Skills Commission and the Training Advocate will be consolidated and will be operational through the South Australian Skills Commission when it is established later in the year.