MEDIA RELEASE: DAMNING NEW REPORT CONFIRMS APPRENTICE AND TRAINEE CRISIS UNDER THE LIBERALS - WEDNESDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2019

10 September 2019

 

THE HON TANYA PLIBERSEK MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING
MEMBER FOR SYDNEY

DAMNING NEW REPORT CONFIRMS APPRENTICE AND TRAINEE CRISIS UNDER THE LIBERALS

The number of Australians doing an apprenticeship or traineeship is lower today than it was a decade ago, according to a damning new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

There are also far fewer people completing their apprenticeships or traineeships – the lowest since 2001 under John Howard.

And for the first time since 2001, the number of cancellations and withdrawals from apprenticeships and traineeships exceeded the number of completions.

Sadly, this comes as no surprise.

Six years of Liberal Party cuts to TAFE and training means Australia is now in a skills crisis – with 150,000 fewer apprentices and trainees, and a shortage of workers in critical services including plumbing, carpentry, hairdressing, and motor mechanics.

Why doesn’t Scott Morrison want to train Australians to do these jobs?

By locking Australians out of education, Scott Morrison is locking them out of jobs.

WEDNESDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2019