Federal Corangamite MP Libby Coker is calling on the Government to commit to employing a minimum number of apprentices to work on federally funded projects.
On Tuesday, the Federal Government committed to spending $6.7 billion on infrastructure projects.
Ms Coker said it was imperative these projects be used as a training ground for the next generation of tradespeople.
Its time the Morrison-McCormack Government put its money where its mouth is and gave our young apprentices and trainees hope for the future, she said.
A great way to achieve this is for the Government to ensure that one in every 10 workers on federally-funded projects is an apprentice or trainee.
I want to see local apprentices and trainees working on the federally funded upgrades to the Barwon Heads road and the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds rail duplication.
Since the election of the Coalition Government, more than $3 billion has been cut from TAFE and training and 140,000 apprentices and trainees have been lost nationwide.
Data from the Department of Education, Skills, and Employment has revealed in the Barwon South West region, there has been a 28 per cent drop in individuals undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship.
Ms Coker said while she acknowledged the Governments recent investment in apprenticeships and traineeships, she urged Scott Morrison to extend his support beyond a headline.
The fact of the matter is the Morrison-McCormack Government has plunged Australia into a tradie crisis.
In Corangamite, there are fewer people seeking out a trade in 2020 than were in 2013.
After spending seven years creating this crisis, I would welcome any initiative that would prove the Coalition was serious about cleaning up their mess and helping young people into rewarding secure jobs.
But predictably, the Liberals latest tradie announcement is focused purely on the short term.
I question the validity of the Government regarding subsidised apprenticeships.
In just 11 months time the wage subsidy will run out. What guarantees has the Government put in place to ensure apprentices are kept on.
It doesnt make up for the 140,000 fewer apprentices that we have seen over the life of this Government.
The Prime Minister needs to prove he will show up for these tradies beyond a photo op.
