Skill Shortages

The Hon. A.L. McLACHLAN (15:12): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills a question regarding bricklayer shortages and apprenticeships in South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A.L. McLACHLAN: On 30 June 2014, the Australian Brick and Blocklaying Training Foundation issued a media release revealing that there is a growing shortage of skills and availability of bricklayers in Australia. Despite this, the number of apprenticeship commencements in construction, particularly bricklaying, has not improved over the past year. Indeed, the shortages are so severe that in July of this year the federal government added bricklaying to the skilled occupation list for migrants in an attempt to address this growing skills shortage.

My question to the minister is: given that the Australian Brick and Blocklaying Training Foundation has issued a press release in respect of this issue, and given that the federal government has now added bricklaying to the skilled occupation list for migrants, can the minister advise the chamber what measures the state government is taking to address the low apprenticeship numbers in this particular trade?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (15:13): I thank the honourable member for his question. Just for his information, to the best of my knowledge I am not aware of being approached by any of the construction groups, either training groups or construction associations, indicating a shortage here in South Australia in this particular area. I have not been approached in respect of that.

In relation to how we generally deal with the skills required in this state, we have a process whereby we engage with industry. Our task group has a key role in doing that and they engage regularly with industry groups and business groups to be able to ascertain not only what sorts of skillsets are required but also the sorts of quantities that we might need them in as well. That work is very important work.

Our Training and Skills Commission is responsible for coordinating most of that work. It has launched its 2013 annual report, and there is an updated focus on the demand for qualifications over the five-year period, including a detailed analysis of the skilling requirements for specialist occupations. The plan was updated following extensive consultation with industry and community stakeholders. As I said, we continue to conduct that work and we continue to try to balance the industry needs right across all the sectors, not just the construction sector, with the training placements. We continue to work in that space.