My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Regional and Rural Development and Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation in the other place, Jacinta Allan. Last week the minister launched a $3.96 million initiative to attract skilled migrants to regional Victoria. This is part of the Brumby government’s skilled migration strategy. The Global Skills for Provincial Victoria program is a key component of the Global Skills for Victoria skilled migration strategy. The program will link regional employers to migrants with the right skills for specific occupations. In a media release the minister said:
- Attracting skilled migrants to provincial Victoria boosts regional populations, fills skill shortages, generates economic growth and builds stronger local communities …
On the federal government’s own estimate Australia faces a skills shortage of more than 200 000 skilled workers over the next five years. This is evidence that the Brumby government is acting now, when action is needed, but that after 11 years in office the federal government has failed on having a plan for the future. In the 2004 election campaign Mr Howard promised to solve the skills crisis by setting up so-called Australian technical colleges (ATC). After three years they have only 1800 enrolments, only 2 out of 21 colleges are meeting enrolment targets, it is costing $175 000 per student and not one student has graduated. Despite this, just yesterday the federal Liberal Party announced it would throw another $2.1 billion at its failed ATC model. That clearly is not a vote for Australia. I ask the minister to provide me with a time line for the implementation of the Global Skills for Provincial Victoria program.