16 May 2001

Employer groups, unions and State Government leaders have warned that thousands more young Australians will miss out on training places this year unless the Federal Government ends a freeze on extra funding at today's meeting.

"The Federal Government makes a lot of noise about the training and skill needs of Australian workers, but it is not prepared to share the costs," ACTU President Sharan Burrow said today.

"John Howard can find billions of dollars to bail out failed insurance companies, but he's refusing to pay for the growing training needs of our young people and industries," Ms Burrow said.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show 46,000 young people missed out on TAFE places in 1999. An estimated 60,000 are expected to miss out this financial year as a result of the funding limit.

"The Federal Government's current offer of $20 million in new Vocational Education and Training funding for all the States and Territories over the next year is completely inadequate," Ms Burrow said.

"Unless Education and Training Minister David Kemp dramatically increases the offer, then today's talks are doomed to failure. The future of thousands of young workers depends on realistic Commonwealth funding for a new Australian National Training Agreement."

A coalition of 10 leading employer groups warned last week that the funding crisis was limiting both employers' and apprentices' choice to select the training that best suits their needs.

Further information:
Jeremy Vermeesch 0408 513 849

Authorised by D. Fitzgerald, AEU President, 120 Clarendon St, Southbank Vic. 3006 Australia