Country regions ignored over trade schools, says Page
The NSW Government’s plan to offer school-based apprenticeships to HSC students in Sydney highlights Labor’s lack of interest in the skills shortages facing rural and regional areas, Shadow Minister for Skills Development and Training Don Page said today.
Mr Page, the Member for Ballina, said that the announcement of the creation of 10 trade schools in Sydney was being dressed up to make it sound like a major initiative when it was not.
He said the concept of school-based apprenticeships was not new and had successfully been in place in Queensland for eight years.
“The State Government has at last recognised the reality — NSW is facing a skills shortage crisis,” Mr Page said.
“Yet Labor continues to ignore the needs of rural and regional areas with this Sydney-centric policy that will have little or no impact on the skills shortage facing the rest of New South Wales.
“In order to adequately address the skills shortages, the Government must have a whole-of-NSW approach.
“While the Government’s announcement is a step in the right direction, this policy does not go far enough to provide skills training in areas where it is needed — including regional New South Wales.
“Introducing this in only 10 schools is not nearly enough. It should be introduced across the State.”
