APPRENTICESHIPS

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:26): I seek leave to make an explanation before directing a question to the Minister for Consumer Affairs on the subject of early sign-off of apprenticeships.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: It was brought to the opposition's attention last year that apprentices were receiving early sign-off, which was a concern particularly to industry and trade organisations. During estimates, the minister stated, in response to questions, that she had been advised 'not that we are aware' to apprentices being signed-off early without their employer's approval. She went on to say further that apprentices are required to 'demonstrate that they have reached a competence standard that is accepted not only for on-the-job training but also with respect to academic requirements to be able to be licensed'.

In the recent federal budget, the skills package which has been announced will allow apprentices to finish their training early, and this has again provoked trades groups to raise similar concerns. My questions are :

1. How does the announced skill package affect OCBA's operations, registration and so forth?

2. To date, what consultation has the government had with industry in relation to this specific initiative?

3. Is the minister now aware of any sign-off of apprentices without employer approval?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (14:28): I thank the member for her questions. I believe I have already answered the substance of this question in this place, because the federal initiative goes to the same sorts of issues. The new federal arrangements are underpinned by the current jurisdictional licensing systems that remain in place and will work, to the best of my knowledge, in exactly the same way that they currently do.

As people would know, the Office of Consumer and Business Affairs regulates prescribed occupations through the licensing and registration system, and it does that to protect consumers by assuring them of fair and transparent market behaviour in specific trades and occupations and also that the trades and occupations that are licensed by OCBA are, in fact, those that are deemed to fulfil certain standards required by the industry to ensure that their work is safe.

I have spoken in this place, I am sure, on a number of occasions and indicated that, to obtain a licence and/or registration, an applicant has to meet specific eligibility criteria that apply to their trade or profession, and these often include a range of business qualifications or experience and particular technical training and also character-type requirements, such as for some an absence of particular criminal records, etc.

I have put on the record in this place before that the issue to do with registration is around individuals being able to satisfy a set of competency standards. Those competency standards are set by the relevant industry, technical and professional bodies where they are relevant; once those competencies have been deemed to be successfully achieved, a person is deemed to be eligible to be registered or licensed. That system is in place currently.

There were issues about work experience and whether a person was required to finish particular work experience. I have answered in this place before that, where the competencies are demonstrated to be satisfactorily met, then that person is entitled to be registered or licensed. In some sectors, they prefer a certain length of work experience, but that is not necessarily required to fulfil competency standards. There is a different range of practices in place and, as I said, I have gone on the record and made that quite clear in the past.

I have been advised that, in terms of the federal initiatives, the same licensing structures remain in place, the same protections remain in place, and we continue to work with the appropriate industry and technical and training bodies to ensure that those competency standards are reviewed from time to time and remain contemporary to ensure that our tradespeople are of the highest possible standard and that we can be confident as consumers that the work they do in our homes, workplaces and buildings is of a standard that ensures safety and quality.