Work-Ready Training Programs

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:11): Supplementary—and I'll enjoy listening to the Treasurer—is the Treasurer saying that the government will now scrap job-readiness training programs?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:12): In relation to the specific program that the honourable member has raised, I will take advice through the minister and bring back a reply. I know questions were raised by the Hon. Ms Scriven three, four, five weeks ago in relation to a similar range of programs. It was quite clear that in those programs the former Labor government had made the decision to scrap the programs, not the new government, and we just made the conscious decision to put our money, our funding priorities, into things like traineeships, apprenticeships, abolishing payroll tax for small business. We were not going to put new funding into those particular programs that the former Labor government had already scrapped.

In relation to the specific program, I will check to see whether it's of the same nature as the programs that the Hon. Ms Scriven raised some weeks ago. If it is, then my comment remains the same.