Gary Hardgrave (Moreton, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

In response to that, the figures that the member for Jagajaga has offered are perhaps an indicative example or an example indicative, if you want to look at it another way. At the end of it, the government have made it plain that no additional fees will be charged for people to attend an Australian technical college. We understand that there are fee structures already in place in line with the attendance at an existing non-government school.

The Australian government has dedicated something in the order of $19 million or $20 million to the Australian technical college in Townsville for its operating and capital works moneys over this current three-year period. On top of that, it has a tremendous amount of support from the Townsville community. The Townsville example is not isolated in this, but I have to say that I have been quite amazed by the strength of support that has come out of the Townsville community in general and, indeed, the Townsville business community towards the Australian technical college of North Queensland. It is quite amazing to think that, some six or seven months before this particular college opens, Townsville business has already committed 100-plus places for school based apprenticeships—Australian school based apprenticeships, as they will be called from 1 July. That is 100-plus employment opportunities to young people attending this school.

On top of that, the effect of the strong business contingent involved in the management of this college sees businesses such as Alexander Body Works, which have repainted one of their utilities with ‘Australian Technical College North Queensland’ I am telling everyone all around the country, ‘You should get an Alexander Body Works involved in your consortium.’ They are driving around Townsville and Thuringowa getting the word out. I have a feeling I may have to be literally beating people off with a stick, and they are going to be coming back and asking for even more money because this program is so successful and so well understood in the Townsville region. I was rather delighted that the member for Jagajaga used the Townsville example, but I would be very cautious if I was her in any attacks that she might make on the way that this college is operating or organising itself, because it has an enormous of support in the Townsville and Thuringowa region.

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