MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:04): Can I just correct the record? The fact of the matter is that the most recent National Centre for Vocational Education Research report shows that in the year to December 2019 there was a 7.3 per cent increase in construction trade apprenticeship completions in Victoria and a 3.4 per cent increase in trade completions across the state. That means in December 2019 we were well on the way to having more apprenticeships completing with skills needed for the Big Build infrastructure projects the Victorian government is investing in now and into the recovery. December 2019 is a world away from June 2020, and this data does not reflect the impact of the current crisis. History tells us that apprentices and trainees are amongst the first during an economic downturn to lose their jobs, and we have been the first state government to recognise this and to set up a register to put close to $1 million into this program where we will have program officers essentially reaching out and talking to apprentices. (Time expired)
Category: Parliament
