Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery) Share this | Hansard source

I am happy to update the Senate on the progress of Apprentice Kickstart. Last year the government took the opportunity to re-tailor the stimulus package to support the economic recovery. Part of that was putting together Apprentice Kickstart, where we more than tripled the first-year bonus for employers who took on an apprentice in one of the traditional trades over the summer period. We did this with the support of Senator Bob Brown and the Greens, and Senator Fielding, and I thank them for their support in re-tailoring the Jobs Fund. Apprentice Kickstart means employers will receive almost $5,000 in the first year to take on an apprentice. We did this following extensive feedback from industry, from business. We also kept in mind the number of major projects in the pipeline—LNG and mining projects—and the number of construction workers that were going to be required.

I am happy to inform the Senate that, in the first seven weeks of Apprentice Kickstart, 6,400 young apprentices have taken up the tools already. That is a fantastic result. This not only prepares us for the skill needs of this country but also helps us to fight youth unemployment, one of the downsides of the global recession. We are very proud of that.

On behalf of the government, I thank the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for their support for Apprentice Kickstart. They have been very supportive and they have done a great deal of work. I thank the AiG for their work. I thank the Master Builders Association and the Housing Industry Association for their support.

We are working towards 21,000 apprenticeships by the end of February. I urge businesses to take this opportunity right now. There has never been a better time to take on an apprentice. It will be good for their business, good for the Australian economy and good for the future. (Time expired)