Helen Kroger (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Back, I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 June 2012:

The nexus between the demand for infrastructure delivery and the shortage of appropriate engineering and related employment skills in Australia, with particular reference to:

  (a)   the implications of the shortage for infrastructure delivery in terms of economic development, cost, efficiency, safety and disputation;

  (b)   the impact of the long-term outsourcing of engineering activities by government on skills development and retention in both the private and public sectors;

  (c)   options to address the skill shortage for engineers and related trades, and the effectiveness and efficiency of relevant policies, both past and present;

  (d)   options for infrastructure delivery using alternative procurement models which aim to foster collaboration and achieve effective community outcomes, including skills development and retention;

  (e)   effective strategies to develop and retain engineering talent in the private and public sectors through industry training and development, at enterprise, project and whole-of-sector levels;

  (f)   opportunities to provide incentives to the private sector through the procurement process to undertake skills development;

  (g)   consequences of skills shortage in the construction sector to the public sector's capacity to effectively procure and manage infrastructure projects;

  (h)   the impact of delayed and stalled infrastructure projects on economic development, workplace productivity and employment; and

     (i)   other related matters.

Question agreed to.