Doorstop - Terrigal NSW
LUCY WICKS MP:
It’s so good to see our Central Coast local businesses going from strength to strength. We are here with Terrigal Electrical Services, an outstanding local business that won business of the year just a couple of weeks ago, here on the Central Coast. Ryan employs 16 people here locally. He has seven apprentices. His business is going from strength to strength, and he is able to utilise all of the measures outlined in the budget to be able to take his business forward. To hear more about this and some of the measures we have for the record number of apprentices and trainees here on the Central Coast—2,800 across the Central Coast. In fact, a 20 per cent increase in my electorate of Robertson from when Labor was last in Government. We are seeing a record number of apprentices and trainees. And that is thanks in no small part to great businesses like Terrigal Electrical Services and also of course the initiatives that we have outlined, to make sure that businesses are able to invest in more apprentices and trainees for our future. To talk more about this, I would like to introduce you to Minister for Skills, Stuart Robert.
MINISTER ROBERT:
Thanks Lucy. Great to be here in Terrigal. Ryan thank you for the opportunity to come and join you with Alisha and Troy—two of Ryan’s great apprentices, mature aged apprentices here at Terrigal Electrical Services. Ryan of course from Terrigal Electrical has got seven apprentices that have been brought on. And Elisha, who I will get to speak to you in a moment. Elisha of course was brought on due to the Government’s Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements program. And this budget has got so much here for tradies. The Morrison Government is the best friend that tradies have ever had. 120 per cent deductibility for digital assets. 120 per cent deductibility in terms of skills and training for Australians. Extension for the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements through to 30 June and then of course starting the new apprenticeship incentive program from 1 July. The Morrison Government is backing a whole new generation of apprentices. 220,000 trade apprentices, right now in the country. All of them working around as we speak, here in a major renovation in Terrigal. And of course 2,800 trade apprentices—a record we have seen here on the Central Coast. Now Elisa, come and join me. You are 22, second-year electrical apprentice. Why did you decide to be an apprentice? What does it mean for you as an apprentice here?
ELISHA:
I wanted to be part of a career that was constantly changing. And I guess where I could learn new skills that I could take home and just use it elsewhere.
MINISTER ROBERT:
Yep. Which is superb. What do you enjoy about being a sparky?
ELISHA:
I like to see how everything works and going from the ground up.
MINISTER ROBERT:
We’ve seen a record investment. And what we see is women in non-traditional trades. And being a sparky is part of that. And there are fabulous young ladies like Alisha all over the country who are benefitting from the Morrison Government’s investment in skills and in apprentices. And Elisha is just one of these 2800 apprentices right now. A record number here on the Central Coast. Lucy thank you for all your advocacy. Thanks for your help. Ryan you have done a great job.
JOURNALIST:
What is the longevity in the budget? How is this going to improve jobs looking forward. Especially for tradies on the Central Coast?
MINISTER ROBERT:
Well the beauty of what the Budget has done, is by extending the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements through to the 30 June, all apprentices who have come on between now and then, of course, will have their first 12 months’ salary, 50 per cent from the Commonwealth. Second year, 10 per cent. Third year five per cent. And from 1 July the apprentices, as we move off the COVID emergency measures, will have 10 per cent, 10 per cent, 5 per cent over three years. As well as a $5,000 incentive for the apprentices to assist them to sign on and make ends meet. So this will take us through to the next three and four years as strong incentives for young people and not just young, Troy of course is 41. Elisha is very early twenties. These are mature age apprentices, who are also seeing the opportunity to be involved.
JOURNALIST:
And with key gaps here on the Coast being training transport and social infrastructure, will this help alleviate the pressures that were felt in those areas?
MINISTER ROBERT:
Absolutely. 22 per cent increase in trade apprentices alone with record numbers right across the country. We’ll see another 35,000 apprentices come on board because of the announcement in the Budget. And of course with $3.7 billion for the new skills agreement, that will see over 800,000 new Australians skilled in areas of demand, in their core areas. And this will be a core focus for that work.
JOURNALIST:
Your constituents would have come here to you for years, on the Central Coast. What are some of the things you have heard in terms of how hard it has been for apprentices on the Central Coast?
LUCY WICKS MP:
One of the things that I have been proud of, of this Government, is that we have actually tackled the core challenges that we were facing. Particularly when it came to Vocational Education and Training. So we were able to work properly through some of the challenges and the mess that was left behind by the previous Labor Government. We were able to clean that up. What we were then able to do was important initiatives such as the Industry Training Hub in Gosford to help connect our young people aged from 16 years, with jobs that are available now. To make sure they are getting the connections with local business with local industry into careers and into areas, trades included, where there are jobs. And there is a great future for them. So we are actually seeing some great initiatives such as this. Of course the apprenticeship package that was announced in the previous Budget. That has had a great benefit here on the Central Coast. And then the recent announcement outlined by the minister I think if you like, is really the icing on the cake. Because you are helping us make sure that we not only have a record number of apprentices as we outlined to date. 2,800 who are on the Central Coast. And in my electorate of Robertson, that represents around 20 per cent increase from the previous Labor Government. We are able to make sure that continues into the future.
JOURNALIST:
And bigger picture for the Coast. Not just people in trades. How are people on the Central Coast going to actually see these changes in and around them?
LUCY WICKS MP:
I think we are already seeing this happen in and around the Central Coast. The measures to actually boost and back new businesses. We are seeing record low unemployment. We are seeing an increase in house prices. We are seeing an increase in renovations. We are seeing youth unemployment reduced. Which has been something that has been a real challenge on the Central Coast. Something I am pleased to see that we are actually delivering. We are also of course not only standing on a record, but delivering important infrastructure here on the Central Coast. Including North Connects. Looking at a business case for faster rail, the billion initiative in the Wyong/Tuggerah railway line there. The record amount of funding that we are going to be bringing into local roads. $86.5 million, in 2019. Election well underway now. But we are going to continue to do that. We’ve seen the Central Coast medical school, the medical research institute. A ground breaking investment in the future of Gosford. $86.5 million there. And what that means as well. I was talking this weekend with the minister. And a number of businesses, including multinational businesses who are interested in looking at the Central Coast as a potential place to call home. This is what this Budget and this government is all about. Helping to really make sure that there are the very best opportunities the very best infrastructure and the very best the Central Coast region can become a local economic powerhouse. For our nation and I absolutely believe that that is our future and something that we will see here in the years to come.
JOURNALIST:
We’ve heard just on that Wyong and upgrades to the Pacific Coast, that money hasn’t actually been allocated for the next few years. Is the money being allocated here in the Budget immediate? Is it an immediate effect for tradies? Or are we going to be waiting a few months or even years for that?
LUCY WICKS MP:
No I’m going to get the Minister to outline that but many of these measures are available as at Budget night.
MINISTER ROBERT:
Absolutely. In terms of funding for tradies, available right now. I’ve been saying to every single young person here on the Central Coast, and there are hundreds and hundreds of young Australians, 16 to 21, who aren’t working and aren’t in training. Get hold of your local employer. Go and door knock. Get hold of your local builder, your local sparky, plumber, whatever that interest is. Get involved in it. In terms of young people at school, there is a great opportunity for vocational education and training in school right now. Where from year 11 you can start the first year of your apprenticeship over the last two years of school. There is no reason why every single young Australian can’t be into a trade or traineeship right now. It’s available in the Budget. There are measures that are there. There are incentives in the Budget. Young Australians should go and get them.
JOURNALIST: (to Elisha)
What does something like this mean for you. And for some of the people you have studied with that are looking to move into the workforce.
ELISHA:
It probably just makes it easier for them to get an apprenticeship and a head start on their career.
JOURNALIST:
A huge bit of looking for a new job and your career is the anxiety of how far it is going to last into the future. Does this alleviate some of that? Does it make you feel like you are set up? What else do you think has come out of this?
ELISHA: I would just encourage more people to get out there and give it a go.
JOURNALIST: What would you say to some of those people?
ELISHA: Go out there, get some work experience if you like. And go from there.