Apprenticeship completion rates down under Labor

New data released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research, suggests that apprenticeship commencement rates have sunk under Labor. The report released today suggests that in the March quarter 2013, compared with the previous year commencements have decreased by 33.0%. These results confirm that the best thing that we can do to support young people wanting to commence an apprenticeship is to scrap the carbon tax and reduce the compliance burden on small business. Scrapping the carbon tax and reducing compliance costs for small business will mean once again they take on new apprentices in plumbing, joinery, carpentry and agriculture. The Coalition also has a plan to establish a $20,000 interest-free Trade Support Loans scheme. These loans are designed to help Australia maintain and boost a skilled and productive workforce. The support loans will help to assist apprentices with the day to day expenses associated with living, learning and completing an apprenticeship. Only the Coalition has a positive plan to help apprentices complete their training, strengthen the economy and end the command and control from Canberra. 4 September 2013