Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Antic for his question. The budget that was handed down last night sets out the next stage for the Morrison government's economic plan to get Australia and Australians through COVID-19. One of the measures that we are investing in is in terms of businesses being able to take on further apprentices and trainees. We brought down a budget that backs people who want to become an apprentice or trainee but also provides that mechanism for a business to actually take them on. On this side of the chamber, on the government's side, we know that governments themselves don't create jobs; we put in place policy frameworks. The policy framework that the Morrison government puts in place enables businesses out there to prosper, grow and, in this case, create opportunities for apprenticeships and traineeships for more Australians.

What we saw in last night's budget was the government committing to extending the boosting apprenticeship commencements wage subsidy with an additional $1.5 billion. Colleagues, we are now extending out this incredibly successful program to 31 March 2022. Under this program, to date 140,000 Australians have been able to enter an apprenticeship or traineeship; 140,000 new apprenticeships and traineeships have been created since this program was created. With the further funding that we announced last night in the budget, an additional $1.5 billion, this program will now deliver approximately an additional 170,000 apprentices. That is because the Morrison government understands that you need to put in place that pipeline of skilled workers and provide businesses and Australians with the opportunity to bring on and to undertake apprenticeships.