Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am delighted to rise today to congratulate Broome carpentry and joinery apprentice Jonathan Falconer, from my electorate of Durack, for winning the Regional Apprentice of the Year Award. Jonathan's achievement was recognised at the recent Master Builders Apprentice of the Year Awards in Perth. The winner was determined from the best apprentices in the north-west, mid-west, south-west, Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions—so this was a significant achievement. Awards such as these highlight the skills and training of our apprentices, who are so vital to Australian businesses and employers. This is not the first time an apprentice from the Kimberley region has won this award, with Jonathan now being the third in the last eight years.

Apprenticeships and trainee programs are of crucial and continuing importance to the Australian economy, especially the small business sector. This industry faces a range of challenges, including poor completion rates, so it is important to provide both employer and employee incentives to continue this pathway to skilled employment. This is therefore a tribute to our regional building industry and traineeship programs, particularly in the Kimberley region, who work collaboratively to produce such standout tradesmen as Jonathan. Well done, Jonathan Falconer.

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