Pauline Hanson’s deal to deliver $65 billion in tax cuts for the big end of town in exchange for 1000 apprenticeships is a pathetic con job. Hanson has sold out the battlers she pretends to stand up for.
 
Since the Liberals and Nationals came to government Australia has lost over 140,000 apprenticeships - a decline of over 35 percent.
 
There have been more than 864 apprenticeships lost in the electorate of Griffith alone under this government.
 
One Nation have been bought off with an empty promise to replace less than one per cent off the apprenticeships that have been lost under the LNP government.
 
The Turnbull government has no plan to arrest the decline in apprentice numbers. 
 
The 2017 Budget cut a further $637 million from TAFE training and apprenticeships and their proposed ‘Skilling Australians Fund’ – supposed to deliver 300,000 apprenticeships - has been widely panned as unworkable.  
Labor has a comprehensive and fully funded plan that will support TAFE and boost apprentice numbers across the country.
 
The Turnbull- Hanson deal will do next to nothing to arrest the decline in apprentice numbers and should be seen for the smokescreen that it is.

FRIDAY 23 MARCH 2018