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

This is a highly successful investment made by the coalition government in bringing apprentices into the workforce. This is a highly successful program, and what we've now seen is around 224,000 Australians taking on apprenticeships right across Australia. What we've also seen now is that over 77,000 businesses have successfully utilised this program, taking on another apprentice or, in the case of some businesses, being able to grow their business and take on multiple apprentices. What we do under the program is that businesses who take on a new apprentice now get 50 per cent of that apprentice's wage, up to $7,000 per quarter, subsidised by the government for a period of 12 months. Businesses out there have until 31 March 2022 to take advantage of this wage subsidy.