Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the 2014 annual report of the New South Wales Department of Education and Communities shows that TAFE NSW lost 15 per cent of its teaching staff between 2011 and 2014,

(ii) new apprenticeships in New South Wales fell by 20 per cent in 2014,

(iii) the annual report further shows a 16.2 per cent decrease in apprenticeship completions from 2013 to 2014, resulting in 10 000 fewer apprentices completing their training in New South Wales, and

(iv) the Abbott Government has cut nearly $2 billion out of apprenticeship support since coming to office; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to reinstate the Tools For Your Trade program and other forms of support for apprentices to boost skills development and improve job opportunities for young Australians.