Gai Brodtmann (Canberra, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I beg your pardon, Mr Speaker.

All of the students praised the centre and the training they were receiving. Some wanted to go on to study a trade as a result. Others thought it gave them a skill to help them through uni. All of them spoke about the world of new career options opened up by the centre.

I am looking forward to attending the official opening of the St Clare's College centre, which is currently under construction. I was at St Clare's recently to present my School Legends awards to some of the recipients there, and saw the progress to date. At the moment, it is just a big pit in the ground, but I am very much looking forward to watching it grow over the coming year and attending the official opening some time later in the year or early next year.

I am also looking forward to the official opening of the Tuggeranong Sustainable Living Trade Training centres, which are being built at Erindale College, Lake Tuggeranong College, Calwell High School, Caroline Chisholm High School, Lanyon High School, Wanniassa Senior School, and Namadgi School thanks to an $8.1 million investment from the Gillard government.

Canberra has a significant skills shortage. In fact it is acute according to the Canberra Business Council, particularly in trades. This skills shortage has the potential to impact on our future growth and prosperity. That is why the investment in these centres is so important. They go a long way towards addressing the trades skills shortage here in Canberra, while giving students hands-on training to prepare them for the workforce. They are a very welcome addition to the vocational education landscape here, and provide a range of career and money-making options so that our students can realise their full potential, reduce our skills shortage and contribute to the future prosperity of the ACT. (Time expired)

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