Ms TIERNEY — On another note, I take this opportunity to congratulate Quinton Desmond from Colac on being named Gordon TAFE’s most outstanding second-year apprentice. After leaving school Quinton worked for almost 10 years at Colac’s Mitre 10 store before deciding to take up an apprenticeship as a mature age student. Quinton, who is currently 34 years old and has two daughters, was initially knocked back by local businesses but persisted and landed a job with Lorne Electrics. This is another success story where a person’s commitment and desire combined with access to skills training at their local TAFE has had a positive result, yet the Napthine government insists on ripping $1.2 million out of the TAFE sector. This week we have seen the government drop the $20 million apprentice trade bonus program. All of this will make it even harder for people to take on apprenticeships and will see fewer people enrolled in apprenticeship programs.
Category: Parliament