Ms WALKER - 2011-08-16
Can you please provide an update to the House on progress with the government’s target of 10 000 apprentice and trainee commencements over four years?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am delighted to answer this question. This government is overseeing an unprecedented period of economic growth in the Northern Territory. It has been a priority to grow our own apprentices and trainees to form a larger skilled workforce in the Northern Territory. Participation in this emerging industrial growth will lead to greater opportunities, greater prosperity, and a greater lifestyle for those people.
Coupled with that, on 7 June this year, I launched a task force, a gearing up of local businesses for major projects. This brought together a number of key players and was very much collaboration and a Team NT approach between industry and the Northern Territory government to grow our local workforce and support local businesses. This has been done with industry. We have two co-chairs, the CE of the department of Business and the Chair of the Chamber of Commerce supporting the government in this initiative. We also have INPEX, ConocoPhillips, Master Builders Association, Civil Contractors Federation, Road Transport Association, Manufacturers Council, Unions NT, Charles Darwin University, Industry Capability Network, and the Chief Executives from the department of Business and the Department of Education and Training who do invaluable work in this area.
The purpose is to have an idea of where workforce demands are coming in the future, and this was provided. This informs our Jobs NT strategy - a $312m strategy. We have a Jobs Plan, the other side of the House has no jobs plan at all. It is a deliberate focus of the Jobs Plan to build the workforce and build the Indigenous education and opportunities as well.
In relation to apprentices and trainees, a record - this is for you, current Leader of the Opposition - current number of apprentices and trainees is 4700, which is a great result. This year alone, 1478 Territorians have commenced …
Mr Mills: How many finish?
Mr KNIGHT: ... and in 2010, there were 3000 apprentices commenced. Over the past three years, current Leader of the Opposition, 4000 Territorians have completed their apprenticeship and training; 4000 young people have jobs …
Members interjecting
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr KNIGHT: When I go to business - and I visited a business today, Hastings Deering and Hydraulink yesterday - they are screaming for workers. We, through this program, through working with the department of Education, are training these young people for jobs here ...
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Can I ask the honourable member to direct his comments through the Chair? It is quite threatening.
Mr KNIGHT: You are anti-business, Terry Mills.
A member: Very, very defensive, poor chap
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, I remind you that you refer to members by their titles. If you would not mind withdrawing that last bit and explaining that.
Mr KNIGHT: I withdraw ‘Terry Mills’ and insert ‘current Leader of the Opposition’.
Madam SPEAKER: Just Leader of the Opposition. We do not need the ‘current’. Member for Greatorex, I remind you not to call out personal names as well.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am delighted to answer this question. This government is overseeing an unprecedented period of economic growth in the Northern Territory. It has been a priority to grow our own apprentices and trainees to form a larger skilled workforce in the Northern Territory. Participation in this emerging industrial growth will lead to greater opportunities, greater prosperity, and a greater lifestyle for those people.
Coupled with that, on 7 June this year, I launched a task force, a gearing up of local businesses for major projects. This brought together a number of key players and was very much collaboration and a Team NT approach between industry and the Northern Territory government to grow our local workforce and support local businesses. This has been done with industry. We have two co-chairs, the CE of the department of Business and the Chair of the Chamber of Commerce supporting the government in this initiative. We also have INPEX, ConocoPhillips, Master Builders Association, Civil Contractors Federation, Road Transport Association, Manufacturers Council, Unions NT, Charles Darwin University, Industry Capability Network, and the Chief Executives from the department of Business and the Department of Education and Training who do invaluable work in this area.
The purpose is to have an idea of where workforce demands are coming in the future, and this was provided. This informs our Jobs NT strategy - a $312m strategy. We have a Jobs Plan, the other side of the House has no jobs plan at all. It is a deliberate focus of the Jobs Plan to build the workforce and build the Indigenous education and opportunities as well.
In relation to apprentices and trainees, a record - this is for you, current Leader of the Opposition - current number of apprentices and trainees is 4700, which is a great result. This year alone, 1478 Territorians have commenced …
Mr Mills: How many finish?
Mr KNIGHT: ... and in 2010, there were 3000 apprentices commenced. Over the past three years, current Leader of the Opposition, 4000 Territorians have completed their apprenticeship and training; 4000 young people have jobs …
Members interjecting
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr KNIGHT: When I go to business - and I visited a business today, Hastings Deering and Hydraulink yesterday - they are screaming for workers. We, through this program, through working with the department of Education, are training these young people for jobs here ...
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Can I ask the honourable member to direct his comments through the Chair? It is quite threatening.
Mr KNIGHT: You are anti-business, Terry Mills.
A member: Very, very defensive, poor chap
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, I remind you that you refer to members by their titles. If you would not mind withdrawing that last bit and explaining that.
Mr KNIGHT: I withdraw ‘Terry Mills’ and insert ‘current Leader of the Opposition’.
Madam SPEAKER: Just Leader of the Opposition. We do not need the ‘current’. Member for Greatorex, I remind you not to call out personal names as well.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016