Pat Conroy (Charlton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Australia has a strong reputation for producing high-quality tradespeople. Apprentices are at the core of our trade workforce and that is why Labor has always supported Australian apprentices, while those on the other side just want to saddle them with debt. Tony Abbott has deceived yet another group of Australians. This time it is young apprentices. Prior to the 2013 election he announced trade support loans, but he did not say a peep—that is right, Mr Deputy Speaker, not a peep—about his plan to axe $1 billion worth of skills programs, including Labor's Tools For Your Trade program. Before the election in 2013 Tony Abbott told us that the coalition would provide 'better support for Australia's apprentices'. Nothing could be further from the truth. Removing the funding that directly pays for the tools that an apprentice requires in their day-to-day work is hardly supportive. The only option apprentices will have is a debt.

This may not seem like a big deal in the Prime Minister's electorate or that of the Treasurer. However, in the electorate that I represent, Charlton, it is a big deal. Almost 25 per cent of those living in the Charlton electorate have a TAFE qualification. Of those aged between 17 and 22, almost 13 per cent are currently enrolled in a TAFE course. So any cut in support for young tradies is a big loss in Charlton.

I would like to share with you Christina's story. Christina is a first-year apprentice hairdresser who works in a salon in Bonnells Bay. She started her apprenticeship in November last year and studies at the Tighes Hill TAFE campus. Christina tells me there is a lot of equipment to buy, from the hairdryers, clippers, scissors and thinners she uses in the salon to her uniform and the books used at TAFE. These expenses add up. Christina was fortunate to receive an $800 reimbursement for these expenses and she acknowledges that it will be hard for those who do not receive this support. She says:

Hairdressing apprentices are on such a low wage as it is, not having the help to buy the equipment you need would make it really hard.

I don't think what the government is doing is the right thing for young people.

If you are like me, and have recently left school, there are other things in your life that you need to be responsible for as well, like your phone bill and living expenses.

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We need help to get started in an apprenticeship, and young people may think twice about doing it if they don't have family support or other financial support.

Christina's story is similar to that of so many young people in our area. Whilst not every person who undertakes an apprenticeship is a school leaver, it is arguably the most critical time to support young people as they make decisions about their future and embark on a path towards a future career.

I know that government policy provides pathways and assistance for young people to get an apprenticeship. It is so important. Labor have a proud record of supporting apprentices and we will never waver from that. Australia has a strong reputation for producing high-quality tradespeople. Apprentices are at the core of our workforce and Labor will always support them, while those on the other side will engage in empty rhetoric and will always saddle them with debt. That is their true legacy to Australian apprentices: abolishing effective programs like Tools For Your Trade, saddling them with debt, misleading them before the election about their true support and attacking industries like manufacturing or shipbuilding where they could get a job. This legislation will hurt apprentices not because of what it does but because of what it seeks to replace, the Tools For Your Trade program. I condemn the legislation.

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