Ms SACILOTTO - 2006-02-16
As part of the Jobs Plan, the Martin government introduced incentives for employers taking on apprentices and trainees. Can you update the House on how these employer incentives have been used?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for her question. As recently as lunchtime, I met with a 17-year-old apprentice chef at The Deck Bar who is one of the many to benefit. The Deck Bar is now one of 615 businesses and employers in the Northern Territory to take advantage of these incentives.
In the case of the apprentices and trainees, it is money that is well received; they are not on a very high wage or salary. So far, we have out laid $262 400 for 471 apprentices and trainees to support their work wear or work gear. That is the type of initiative government can pay for when you have brought three budget surpluses in a row, and when you have the fastest growing economy over the next five years with a growing and rapidly expanding labour market that we want to take full advantage of in skilling our young people for the future.
That is money that has gone directly into the pockets of young Territorians to help them along the way to getting the skills they need for the labour market but, most importantly, the Northern Territory needs in developing that skilled labour market. They are eligible for that incentive payment after three months probation of continuous employment. It is a $1000 payment for those skill shortage areas, the traditional trades areas, and $300 for those traineeship areas. A total of 471 apprentices and trainees have collected this benefit so far. It does not reflect the number eligible, which is well over 1000, so we are increasing our efforts in advising people and will keep working on it. I cannot believe people will be saying: ‘No, I am not interested in that’. I believe there is a marketing exercise here.
I ask all members to remind any constituents in their part of the world that they know of who have commenced an apprenticeship recently to check whether they are, indeed, eligible for this payment. If they are – and I suggest they are - they should front up and collect it.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for her question. As recently as lunchtime, I met with a 17-year-old apprentice chef at The Deck Bar who is one of the many to benefit. The Deck Bar is now one of 615 businesses and employers in the Northern Territory to take advantage of these incentives.
In the case of the apprentices and trainees, it is money that is well received; they are not on a very high wage or salary. So far, we have out laid $262 400 for 471 apprentices and trainees to support their work wear or work gear. That is the type of initiative government can pay for when you have brought three budget surpluses in a row, and when you have the fastest growing economy over the next five years with a growing and rapidly expanding labour market that we want to take full advantage of in skilling our young people for the future.
That is money that has gone directly into the pockets of young Territorians to help them along the way to getting the skills they need for the labour market but, most importantly, the Northern Territory needs in developing that skilled labour market. They are eligible for that incentive payment after three months probation of continuous employment. It is a $1000 payment for those skill shortage areas, the traditional trades areas, and $300 for those traineeship areas. A total of 471 apprentices and trainees have collected this benefit so far. It does not reflect the number eligible, which is well over 1000, so we are increasing our efforts in advising people and will keep working on it. I cannot believe people will be saying: ‘No, I am not interested in that’. I believe there is a marketing exercise here.
I ask all members to remind any constituents in their part of the world that they know of who have commenced an apprenticeship recently to check whether they are, indeed, eligible for this payment. If they are – and I suggest they are - they should front up and collect it.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016