Howard Government wasting millions of dollars

14/10/05
Education and Training Minister Ljiljanna Ravlich has slammed the Howard Government for spending an estimated $100million on selling its draconian industrial relations changes.
"This is an absolute disgrace," Ms Ravlich said.
"That money could be better spent on helping solve our skills crisis."
The Gallop Government is spending a record $3.5billion on education and training this year to help solve the skills shortage.
"The Howard Government is spending a ridiculous amount of money on television, radio and newspaper adverts in a futile effort to convince Australians the industrial relations changes are for the best," the Minister said.
"The Federal Government's priorities are all wrong. They are simply throwing good money after bad. In the middle of a skills crisis, that money would be better spent on our training system.
"What makes the whole thing more insulting is that in a recent training funding deal we signed with the Howard Government, they did not, in real terms, offer us any extra money.
"If Brendan Nelson was a half-decent Education Minister, he would be lobbying the Prime Minister to have some of that $100million spent on our training system.
"We would then be able to take on more apprentices and trainees and get more skilled workers into the workforce.
"Once again, Mr Nelson has stuck his head in the sand.
"The Gallop Government is doing all it can to solve the skills crisis. We recently reached an election commitment to have 30,000 apprentices and trainees in the system, years ahead of schedule."
Since coming to power in 2001, the Gallop Government has increased the number of trainees and apprentices by 47 per cent. This is compared with a national increase of 26 per cent.
"I had a meeting planned with Federal Training Minister Gary Hardgrave to put forward Western Australia's genuine case for more funding for our training sector," Ms Ravlich said.
"Mr Hardgrave simply cancelled the meeting. It appears arrogance reigns supreme in the Howard Government. They do not care about solving the skills shortage, only squandering millions of dollars to force their industrial laws on Australian workers."
The Gallop Government is committed to delivering jobs and opportunities to all Western Australians.
Minister's office: 9213 6800