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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-03-05 Daily Xml
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VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Mr PISONI (Unley) (15:20): My question is to the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills. Following the launch of Skills for All last year, why does South Australia now have the lowest number of people commencing training in 14 years? I seek leave to insert statistical data into Hansard to substantiate my question.

The SPEAKER: Is leave granted?

Honourable members: No.

The SPEAKER: I heard a voice in opposition, so it is not granted. Minister.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (15:21): This government absolutely recognises and acknowledges how important education and training—they're walking out—and skill development are to ensuring that all—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: He is unwell.

Mr PISONI: Mr Speaker, you have time and again said it was unparliamentary to make comments about members' movements within the chamber, and I ask that you remind the minister of your views.

The SPEAKER: Yes, the member for Unley is right: it is unparliamentary to make such remarks. It is a convention that we do not refer to each other's location in the chamber or whether or not we are in it. Minister.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: You are absolutely right, sir, and I apologise. Skills for All underpins the state government's commitment to increasing skill levels, lifting workplace participation and, of course, increasing productivity by offering training for South Australians. The training figures released recently by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research relate to apprenticeship and traineeship numbers, and I am very pleased to report the following in relation to this.

In the last 12 months, South Australia has had the highest number of people commencing and completing apprenticeships and traineeships on record. As acknowledged by the NCVER in their report, recent changes to commonwealth incentive payments have resulted in activity being brought forward, and this has seen a drop-off in commencements in the September quarter in every state and territory. That has been acknowledged in the report.

I am very pleased to report that, under Skills for All, South Australia has seen a significant increase in the number of people accessing training. I have an interim figure which will be finalised later this month but, at this stage, I can report that it is a 26 per cent increase. That is an interim figure, and I will need to confirm that. What I can say is that, contrary to the member's assertions, thousands more—around 14,000 South Australians—have taken up training since the introduction of Skills for All. In the TAFE sector alone, there are around 7,000 additional enrolments since the introduction—

The Hon. M.F. O'Brien: They've been busy.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: Yes, they have been very busy—of Skills for All. I commend Skills for All. I would like to acknowledge previous ministers, sitting here and over there—I shouldn't refer to their location. There is no question that our significant investments in our state in training and education are starting to bear real fruit. I commend Skills for All.

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