WorkReady

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:37): A supplementary question: can the minister explain why she announced the WorkReady subsidised training list just hours before she boarded a plane to China?

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) (14:38): Those announcements were made as soon as I possibly could to give the industry as much time as possible to consider this. I was here for at least a couple of days, and dealt with media at the time, and I was available whilst I was away, wherever possible.

I conducted media interviews with Byner on FIVEaa, and also a media interview with Henschke, and I offered Matt and Dave I think it was two different time spots for a prerecord. I wasn't available at the times they nominated, but I did nominate two other alternate times. I was available whenever I could, given the extremely busy itinerary I had while I was away. I don't really believe that the Hon. David Ridgway is saying that I should have delayed publishing the list for another week or for another 10 days—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: It wasn't available then. We had an extensive process involving the industry—extensive involvement of the industry to land on that list—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: That's not what the industry says.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Well, they are saying that. When it comes to consultation with the subsidised training list, they were involved. We received 1,500 submissions from the sector in relation to that training list, so it is nonsense to suggest that we did not consult. We have given the industry a particular time to enable that comprehensive consultation to occur, and then the publication of that list was made after that. It would have been irresponsible of me to delay that a further 10 days, putting the industry at a disadvantage, and I am sure the Hon. David Ridgway is not suggesting that.