Skilling SA

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (14:53): I must be hard to find today, sir. My question is to the Minister for Innovation and Skills. Can the minister update the house on the Marshall Liberal government's agenda in regard to skills and training, and is the minister aware of any alternate plans?

The Hon. D.G. PISONI (Unley—Minister for Innovation and Skills) (14:53): I thank the member for Colton for his question. Of course, we took a strong and ambitious skills policy to the 2018 state election, and I am delighted to report on the Marshall Liberal government's success in delivering some amazing results.

In partnership with industry and South Australian employers under Skilling SA, a joint state and commonwealth investment of almost $200 million to support skilled careers was launched in 2018. South Australia was the first state to sign the national partnership agreement, and we signed it with enthusiasm. Since announcing the Skilling South Australia initiative just three years ago we have turned the training system around with year-on-year national leading growth.

In the three years since March 2018, South Australia has achieved a 51.5 per cent increase in the commencements of apprenticeships and traineeships, and these are real jobs. This is the highest increase in the nation. According to the latest NCVER report, apprentice and trainee commencements in South Australia increased by 35.6 per cent last year alone. Highlights since Skilling South Australia launched in 2018 include:

48½ thousand commencements;

3,000 employers who have taken on an apprentice or trainee for the first time;

doubling of the Subsidised Training List—now more than 800 courses. We inherited just 350 when we came to office, and only about 30 per cent of those were available to the non-government sector;

creating apprentices in new industries and new sectors; and

more than 210 skills projects codesigned with business and industry unlocking new apprenticeship opportunities across many industries.

We have supported market development:

the Building Capability Program promotes and supports the capability, professionalism and reputation of the VET sector to deliver high-quality outcomes for industry and students. This program focuses on professional development for a high-performing vocational education and training workforce.

support for the introduction of the new VET for Schools policy, including the introduction of VET Readiness Orientation (VETRO) and targeted pathways through our Flexible Industry Pathways program. Currently, 26 industry pathways in total are available to students.

The Marshall government has:

introduced the new South Australian Skills Act;

established the new South Australian Skills Commission;

established seven renewed industry skills councils;

introduced state-based microcredentials; and

new higher apprenticeship pathways, which can lead, of course, to pathways to university.

What are the alternative plans? Of course, the alternative plans are very thin, with Labor's lacklustre record of delivering the worst training system in the nation, with training declining by 66 per cent over a six-year period between 2012 and 2018, and a broken training system—Labor's disaster in 2017 when ASQA suspended 10 qualifications from the TAFE SA scope of registration.

We saw Labor selling 18 TAFE campuses and sacking 600 TAFE employees, and of course they also reduced access to funding to the non-government sector at the same time. We have heard very little from the opposition since that disaster. Before the 2018 election there was no policy. We have seen something come out just recently—a trade training policy. It is more like a Clayton's policy: the sort of policy when you don't have a policy. We saw five tech colleges, which, under further scrutiny, ended up being buildings on existing schools. And, of course, reducing access—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —to apprentices and trainees that—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister, there is a point of order. Minister, please be seated. The member for West Torrens on a point of order I anticipate?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, sir. Standing order 127:

…personal reflections on Members.

A Member may not.

2. …impute improper motives to any other Member.

3. or make personal reflections on any other Member.

I refer to the Deputy Premier's unread and tabled ministerial statement. She makes one—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for West Torrens has the call.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —reference to deliberations of the committee outlined in your previous ruling, sir, and makes reflections on me, the member for Enfield and the member for Mawson, and I ask that she withdraw and apologise immediately.

The SPEAKER: There is a point of order on the point of order. The Leader of Government Business—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of Government Business has the call.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Standing order 127 is something that needs to be taken up at the time by the member who is aggrieved.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Given that we are well into question time, I suggest that the member takes it up with you at another time, if you agree.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Members, I make the following observations. Leave was sought to table the statement, if I recall, and it wasn't read. It therefore follows that members need an opportunity to absorb that material and to address me. They have done so. It is a matter of fine judgement as to whether members read at pace and bring that matter to me now or at an earlier time. The matter has been brought to my attention.

However, it's plain that the statement has already been tabled and, once tabled, Mr Clerk, I understand it would be difficult for it to be withdrawn. It therefore falls to me to consider a separate question, and that is whether an apology might be sought by the member for West Torrens and any other member in relation to a statement made in the house. I will hear the member for West Torrens in relation to that issue.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Thank you, sir. I ask that the Deputy Premier apologise to me in the house because she has said:

The conduct of the member for West Torrens in relation to his prejudicial statement outside Labor's Kangaroo court—

in relation to a committee this parliament established—

with some appreciation of his behaviour therein...

Then she goes on to talk of proceedings in a 'real court', making reference to, I think, a disparaging view of the select committee. I ask that she withdraw and apologise immediately.

The SPEAKER: Member for West Torrens, I am not sure that 'withdraw' necessarily is going to be possible because the statement has been tabled. It also might be possible for these matters to be raised by way of a personal explanation. In any event, I am going to turn to the Deputy Premier. The Deputy Premier, of course this matter might easily be resolved by way of apology.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: The reference in the statement that I think is being referred to, I will just read, is that:

The conduct of the Member for West Torrens in relation to his prejudicial statements outside Labor's Kangaroo court, with some appreciation of his behaviour therein—

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Deputy Premier, there's a point of—

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: I am just reading the statement. This is what I am asked to apologise for.

The SPEAKER: Very well. I understand. The member—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Deputy Premier, there's a point of order which must take precedence. The member for Lee—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Lee will be heard.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: This is not an opportunity for an impromptu speech or repetition of the offending material. You have given the Deputy Premier the opportunity to apologise, and that is all, sir.

The SPEAKER: The Deputy Premier has an opportunity to apologise. I also observed, in relation to a statement made by the member for West Torrens, that might also be made by way of personal explanation. I understand that the Deputy Premier may be addressing me in relation to the question of an apology. It's also open to the member, of course, to raise a matter by way of personal explanation. But I will hear the Deputy Premier in relation to whether she wishes to apologise and then I will take any other business.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: I am just trying to ascertain, because the member for West Torrens had paraphrased bits of the statement, as to which paragraph. I am looking at the penultimate paragraph on page 2. If that's the offending reference to which the member has taken offence and seeks an apology, I seek clarification, given that that clearly relates to statements the member for West Torrens has made outside the parliament—not in the committee, not in this parliament, but outside the parliament—and they are now the subject of court proceedings. So, if that's the case—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Lee! The Deputy Premier has the call.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —they are now the subject of a concerns notice in relation to defamation action. If that's the matter to which he has taken offence, the fact that that is now the subject of other matters relating to statements he has made outside of the parliament, then I don't apologise.

The SPEAKER: I will seek particulars from the member for West Torrens. The member for West Torrens, do you refer me to the penultimate paragraph?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Sorry, sir?

The SPEAKER: Are you referring the house and myself to the penultimate paragraph in the statement made by the Deputy Premier?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, I am, sir, and the final paragraph, which is:

Labor's real focus ought to be the behaviour of the Member for West Torrens, who has brought this Parliament into disrepute.

I ask that the deputy leader of the Liberal Party, the Deputy Premier, withdraw and apologise.

The SPEAKER: Deputy Premier, I understand my attention and the house's attention has been drawn to both the penultimate paragraph and the final paragraph. You have addressed me in relation to the penultimate paragraph and I understand your position is that you do not apologise in relation to that statement. Can I take you to the final paragraph?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: In relation to the final paragraph, which relates to the behaviour of the member for West Torrens, who has brought this parliament into disrepute, I confirm that and I don't apologise for it. I think his behaviour has been utterly disgraceful.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! On indulgence, the Premier addresses me.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I'm not sure that it's on indulgence, sir. During the Deputy Premier's last remarks, the Leader of the Opposition shouted across the chamber, 'Stop lying.' This is a completely outrageous accusation and I ask him to withdraw and apologise.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, Premier. In fact, I didn't hear that statement because of the general noise in the chamber. I am going to give precedence to the member for West Torrens' request for an apology, which I understand has been refused. Of course, in those circumstances a substantive motion might be brought. If there is any substantive motion, consideration might be given to it.

I turn to the Premier, who is seeking an apology. I'm not sure that the comment was attributed to any specific member. In any case, the Premier has taken offence. It is a subjective test. I turn to the member for West Torrens. Do you withdraw and apologise?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Sorry, sir, for clarification, the comment was made by the Leader of the Opposition to the Deputy Premier when she was on her feet. It is unparliamentary, it is completely unconscionable and I ask him to withdraw and apologise.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, Premier. It would be the Deputy Premier who would have to raise that matter. Deputy Premier, do you wish to raise that matter with me?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: Thank you, sir. I raise it to deal with the level of tension on these matters. I do say that it is completely unparliamentary and offensive to anyone in this parliament to be called out to be a liar: 'Do not lie.' There is clear precedence for that. I would ask the Leader of the Opposition to not only apologise but refrain from making those sorts of allegations in this house.

Mr MALINAUSKAS: The Premier is absolutely right. When the Deputy Premier was on her feet saying that legal action had been commenced against the member for West Torrens—

Dr Close: Before the court.

Mr MALINAUSKAS: —she said it was before the court—I did say in response to that, 'I invite the Deputy Premier to stop lying.' I am more than happy to withdraw and apologise with respect to that remark. That's what honourable and dignified actions look like.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I am on my feet and I will be heard. Members! I refer the house to standing order 127, 'Digression; personal reflections on members'. I am going to rule out of order all the interjections which I have heard and we are going to return to question time as it ought to be heard. I am going to take no further points of order in relation to this matter now. If members wish to raise substantive motions, they may do so. We are returning to questions from members. The member for Elder has the call.