Labor Candidates Carolyn Male for Pine Rivers and Mary-Anne O’Neil for Kallangur say the Bligh Government’s investing over $124 million to help create nearly 150,000 training places over the next four years in a record expansion of the Queensland skills base is spot on for the times.
Premier Anna Bligh said the State’s $124 million investment will secure an additional $259 million from the Commonwealth Government and nearly $31 million from industry to complete a $414 million program.
The plan is in addition to the Labor Government’s existing commitment under the Queensland Skills Plan to deliver an additional 17,000 training places a year by 2010.
Carolyn Male said that this will mean Queensland will be well placed to respond when the economic upswing comes.
“Our region is not immune and we will be looking to secure our share of the training places,” Mary-Anne O’Neil said.
The Premier said: “We will work closely with industry to identify the areas that will need more skilled workers when we emerge from this economic storm.”
“This skills expansion will be one of the biggest training exercises ever undertaken in our State’s history.”
“This policy will deliver around 148,000 training places over the next four years in the industries that need them most.”
“It will ensure that, when these tough economic times pass, Queensland will emerge with a skilled army of workers ready to build a prosperous future for our State.”
Ms Bligh said the funding to deliver the training places will be distributed directly to industry organisations and centres of excellence or through a competitive tender process to Registered Training Organisations.
The Premier said the package will create:
• Around 102,000 additional training places ranging in duration between six and 24 months to be delivered over the next four years for existing Queensland workers to increase their skills and;
• Around 46,000 additional training places over the next four years for job seekers and new entrants to the labour market to get trade, training and tertiary qualifications.
The Premier said the policy would mean that tens of thousands of Queenslanders would earn a nationally recognised Certificate II, III or IV, a Diploma or Advanced Diploma qualification.
“These qualifications can help secure a good future for these workers and their families,” she said.
“Over 46,000 places for job seekers and new entrants to the labour market will support thousands of new paid training positions in what is an extremely difficult job market.”
The Premier said the training expansion plan will be targeted to address skills needs identified by Queensland industry.
“We need to support and create positions now but we also need to look over the horizon to make sure we are prepared for the challenges and the opportunities of the future,” she said.
“That’s why we will work closely with industry to identify the areas that will need more skilled workers when we emerged from this economic storm.”
The Premier said priority industries for the program will include:
• Building and civil construction
• Health and community services
• Mining and minerals processing
• Aviation
• Transport and distribution
• Information and communication technology
• Forestry
• Automotive
• Engineering
• Food processing
• Manufacturing
• Tourism and hospitality
“This policy will support thousands of jobs and create the skills we will need to reinvigorate our economy when conditions improve,” said the Premier.
The Bligh Government’s $124.3 million investment will be provided from the Department of Education, Training and the Arts existing and future budget allocations for training places.
