Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister of School Education, Early Childhood and Youth in his capacity representing the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations in this place. Why has the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations not even prepared application forms for the Rural Tertiary Hardship Fund, which was supposed to begin in January 2011? What will the minister do to address this government’s chronic incompetence and failure to deliver even the most basic programs?

Peter Garrett (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. He would be well aware that work is underway to ensure that it will be delivered to all those people who require that information prior to their training. We will continue to deliver the necessary reforms in that area, as we have in others. I go on to point out to members opposite—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Peter Garrett (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

that, whatever area of delivery it relates to, either skills or training or the provision of trade training centres, which you wanted to cut nearly $1 billion out of—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will refer his remarks through the chair.

Peter Garrett (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

we will consistently show the capacity to deliver for people who need training in this country.