Hospitality Group Training

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:35): I have a supplementary question arising out of the answer.

The PRESIDENT: A supplementary; yes, Mr Lucas.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Did the minister at any stage receive advice from HGT that government policy decisions in relation to cutting funding for Certificate I and Certificate II courses were a significant cause of the problems that the training organisation faced? If so, what action, if any, did the minister take?

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) (14:35): I have already indicated that I am not prepared to talk about matters that go to the business of HGT. What I can say is that the rules around Skills for All and the changes that have been made over the year apply to everyone in the sector and it is no different for HGT. They are operating their business on the same level playing field as every other GTO and training place, and it is tough.

There is no denying it is a very tough environment at the moment. We know that the commonwealth government has withdrawn funding money. We know that Skills for All is facing challenges. We have had to put caps and banding in place over the last couple of years. We have not hidden those facts, but they are the same rules that apply right across the sector.