Tafe SA Shearing and Wool Program

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:25): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Leader of the Government a question about TAFE courses for shearers.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: In September, I asked a question regarding a difficulty some young potential shearers were having passing onerous literacy and numeracy tests, perhaps keeping them out of the shearing profession. My questions to the minister are:

1. Have there been any changes to this program?

2. Are young people still being excluded?

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) (15:25): Mr President, as I indicated in my previous answer—and it is very disappointing to see so many questions from the opposition today being simply rehashed old questions. There is nothing—

The Hon. T.J. Stephens interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: There are no fresh ideas, and no fresh political challenge; it is just the same old, same old. But, I am happy, Mr President—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I am very happy to go over my position in relation to this, and that is: I am not an expert on every qualification required. I am certainly not an expert on shearing, and I would not begin to suggest what should or shouldn't be required as part of a curriculum to fulfil those qualifications, nor any other qualification. That is left for the industry and education experts to input into and decide what qualifications are important for employment entry level and career advancement in those career paths. That is exactly as it should be, and that is what I support to continue to happen. In terms of literacy and numeracy generally—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Just disgraceful, Mr President—just disgraceful. It is a shame the Hon. Terry Stephens did not read the newspaper the other day, that showed the appalling literacy and numeracy levels of Australians. It did some international comparisons and we should be ashamed of our levels, and that is why we continue to work so hard to elevate them.

Here we are, on the one hand, with really challenging literacy and numeracy skills amongst adults, and the Hon. Terry Stephens is so narrow-sighted that he comes into this place and questions the importance of literacy and numeracy skills. I think he needs to have a good, hard look at himself, and I think he needs to have a look at the big picture. It is critical—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: It is not just about shearing: it is about people's life skills. How narrow is he, Mr President, that he cannot see the importance of an adult—these are young adults—being able to read and write? How are they even going to fill out their employment form if their literacy and numeracy skills are so poor? It is just appalling that he has such—

The Hon. T.J. Stephens interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: He sits there and wants to be part of a government—

The Hon. T.J. Stephens interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. T.J. Stephens: You're a disgrace—an absolute disgrace!

The PRESIDENT: The only one who is a disgrace at the moment, the Hon. Mr Stephens, is yourself. Allow the minister to complete her answer.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: He is red in the face. His face has gone as red as his bench, Mr President, so I think I had better leave it at that.