Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

Doesn’t that come as a surprise! So the state Labor governments set up regional certifying bodies. They have to be endorsed by the state Labor governments. For present purposes we believe that the state Labor governments are not failing in their duties. The regional certifying bodies have to give that certification. That being the case, no Australian would be displaced from a training opportunity by this visa. I make it clear that foreign apprentices have to pay full fees and that they are not eligible for tool kits, Commonwealth trade learning scholarships, youth allowance or any other Australian government assisted measure.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow was reported in the Australian on 15 April 2005 as saying that she did not oppose fee-paying overseas students taking up apprenticeships in regional Australia ‘as long as it is not at the expense of local students getting their opportunities’. That is why we have regional certifying bodies.

Mrs Irwin interjecting—

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