Training Organisations

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (14:54): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Deputy Premier about training organisations.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: The Australian Skills Quality Authority recently published a long list of registered training organisations whose registrations were cancelled due to noncompliance. Some were found to be ghost colleges, operating an immigration scam. They took substantial payments from foreign students on study visas for VET courses which were either never delivered, of poor quality or where the students failed to attend classes, yet certificates of qualifications were still issued.

One of those RTOs shut down in Adelaide in May was Spark SA Investment Pty Ltd, trading as Spark International College, Spark Automotive College and Spark College of Trades. ASQA found serious noncompliance with training, trainer and assessor practices and governance concerns, cancelling its registration for two years. What is most disturbing is that Spark had strong links to key state and federal ALP Party figures including Senator Don Farrell and Premier Peter Malinauskas, through its chief executive and director, Trimann Singh Gill.

Mr Gill is a Labor powerbroker, a former Senate and state candidate and, according to my sources, he helped stack party branch numbers. Mr Gill also controls a large taxi company where several drivers are on various visas, with some attending his now deregistered college. Following a tip-off, I visited Spark's Grenfell Street premises several times and I did not see any sign of student learning activity.

Mr Armarjit Grewal, another prominent member of the Labor Party and appointed by the Malinauskas government to the position of Deputy Chair of the SA Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission, is a close associate of Mr Gill's, has worked on his campaigns and often presented qualification certificates to Spark students. There is no suggestion that Mr Grewal was involved with Spark's misconduct.

While Mr Gill is not barred from being involved with another training provider, he would still be required to meet ASQA's fit and proper person requirements should he seek to join another organisation. I seek leave to table some supporting photographs of what I have stated here.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: My questions to the minister are:

1. In light of the adverse findings against Mr Gill's dubious training business, will the ALP suspend or cancel his membership forthwith?

2. Does the Labor Party approve of Mr Gill's egregious conduct and believe he is a fit and proper person to be in their party?

3. Considering his important position on the SA Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission, will the government seek an explanation from Mr Grewal about the extent of his involvement with this dodgy VET college and Mr Gill?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Deputy Premier, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (14:58): In relation to the issues to do with training skills I will happily pass them on to the Minister for Training and Skills in the other place and see if there is any reply that can be given.