Interview with Paul Culliver - ABC Newcastle Drive
E&OE Transcript
PAUL CULLIVER, HOST: Andrew Giles, the Minister for Skills and Training, on a Federal level, agreed to have a chat to us. However, he was getting on a plane and was going to be unavailable at this time. So, I've recorded an interview with Minister Giles, so I want that to be clear that Peter Dutton's comments happened after this interview that I conducted with the Minister.
But we did start off by talking about what's coming to TAFE, and I asked the Minister, Andrew Giles, why Newcastle needs a Net Zero Manufacturing Centre for Excellence?
MINISTER FOR SKILLS AND TRAINING, ANDREW GILES: Well, it's both what Newcastle needs and what Australia needs too. But the reason that we're committing to this fantastic Hunter Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence right here in the Hunter, is because of the unique skills, background and opportunities that are present in this region.
There's already a skilled workforce here, there is an adaptability in the community, and obviously there are enormous opportunities, including the jobs that are being generated in the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone, so this is all about making sure that people in the Hunter and in the areas around it get every opportunity to be part of the great net zero transformation, and the manufacturing job opportunities that are coming down the line.
CULLIVER: So what are people going to learn if they go to this place in TAFE New South Wales Tighes Hill campus?
GILES: Well, this is an investment that's a real partnership, it's a partnership obviously between the Albanese Government and the Minns Government here in New South Wales. It's a partnership with the TAFE, but also with industry, with unions and indeed with universities, because what we know is that so many of the jobs of the future require technical skills, and in many instances, those skills are changing.
So, this is about accelerating the development, for example, to the higher apprenticeship model so that people can develop the advanced skills that are required for net zero manufacturing.
Today, there was a real sense of excitement there with the Prime Minister talking to apprentices about what this might mean for them and their career journeys. People are excited to be becoming a boilermaker or a sheet metal worker but thinking about what might come next.
CULLIVER: Right. Yeah. What's the difference between net zero manufacturing and normal manufacturing?
GILES: Well, it's the same basic concept, but obviously we are seeing different forms. We are seeing across the board the electrification of our economy, and indeed our society. One of the great challenges that I know that you'd be aware of is we do need many more electricians, as we think about the change in transmission.
So, all of these things are changing the way in which work is done, including manufacturing work. We've got to make sure that skills right here are being developed and retained.
CULLIVER: Do you need more places like this? Like obviously we understand that there's going to be all sorts of industry growth and industry opportunities in Newcastle and the Hunter, but I assume the entire nation's not going to come here to study if they are pursuing this kind of career?
GILES: No, but what we are seeing is through centres like this one and other ones around New South Wales and around the nation is that we are building Centres of Excellence that will enable the development of knowledge here to be circulated right around Australia.
This is a centre that will have an immediate impact on people in Newcastle and the Hunter, but the work that's done here will influence other parts of the country, and similarly in other Centres of Excellence that might be dealing with other aspects of manufacturing, or healthcare, while they are located in a particular area, the knowledge that is generated there, the skills that are being developed there will be available to every Australian.
CULLIVER: Are the pipelines going to deliver people with the right skills in the right amount of time? We obviously have coal-fired power stations that are going to start to turn off; we have various aims for emission reductions over the next 25 years or so to get to net zero by 2050. If people start studying now, are we going to have enough people to do the jobs we expect they'll need to take up?
GILES: Well, that's why we've hit the ground running. I'm really proud of the work done by my predecessor, Minister O'Connor, in rebuilding a training system that was neglected for a decade.
But we've got so much more to do to increase the number of apprentices in trades like electrotechnology, in manufacturing, mechatronics, engineering and, of course, electricians as well, to make sure that we can meet the demands of our economy.
What this is all about, fundamentally, is giving Australians the skills they want to ensure that we can meet our national goals, the things our economy needs.
I'm seeing real enthusiasm for that, I'm seeing increasing recognition that not only the nine out of ten jobs being generated in the economy now require a post‑school qualification, but so many of them, that half of these don't require a degree, they require a trade qualification, and that a trade qualification is often the ticket to a good life.
Do you know that around 30,000 people in the Hunter have embraced Fee-Free TAFE options under our Government and the Minns Government? I think that's showing that people really want to be a part of this.
CULLIVER: Minister Andrew Giles is your guest this afternoon. He is the Minister for Skills and Training in Newcastle today to announce this Centre for Excellence for net zero manufacturing as you're hearing, but of course, not the only politician in town.
You are listening to ABC Newcastle. We, of course, also had the Prime Minister and the Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns, here; Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the press conference today answering more questions about the Qantas flights that he's taken, particularly the upgrades he's received and the way in which he received those upgrades.
I just want to hear a little bit of what the Prime Minister said in response to some of those questions today in the press conference in Newcastle.
[Excerpt]
ANTHONY ALBANESE: I have at all times, at all times, acted in a transparent and appropriate way, and what I'm concerned about here is that Peter Dutton seems to be obsessed with making attacks on myself, my family ‑‑
[End of Excerpt]
CULLIVER: That's the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, speaking earlier today at a press conference in Newcastle. On the line we have the Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles, who's also here for that announcement today around the new TAFE Centre for Excellence.
Minister, the Prime Minister was asked multiple times whether he directly called or contacted Alan Joyce asking for upgrades. He declined to answer that question specifically. Is that something we really need to get an answer on?
GILES: Well, I thought the Prime Minister was very direct in answering a series of questions, and you know, what I would say, having been at that press conference, is the Prime Minister was in Newcastle to talk about what he is doing, what his government is doing to improve the lives of Australians and to grow our economy.
Now Peter Dutton seems uninterested in that, which is absolutely unsatisfactory for someone who wants to be the alternative Prime Minister.
But on the Prime Minister, he is someone who I'm incredibly proud to serve with, because he has consistently in public life demonstrated not only the utmost integrity, but a commitment to transparency.
CULLIVER: Okay. But on that transparency, he didn't answer the question as to whether he specifically asked Alan Joyce, as the former CEO of Qantas, for upgrades on flights.
GILES: He dealt directly with those issues that were put to him about flights that were promotional in nature. What we are seeing is a Prime Minister who has made the declarations, who has been open and transparent, and an Opposition Leader who is deeply focused on issues that are personal when his own record is about taking flights, private flights from billionaires on a very regular basis.
CULLIVER: Okay. Do you know if the Prime Minister ever solicited Alan Joyce for upgrades?
GILES: No, I think the Prime Minister spoke very directly on this matter in respect to a number of questions, Paul, and put that matter to bed.
CULLIVER: Okay. Is there a larger question here around, as the Prime Minister made the point today, many ministers, many members of government, you know, they are members of the Chairman's Lounge, they receive upgrades fairly routinely. That's an experience that government MPs get an experience of that the regular man generally doesn't have access to.
Is there a larger question here about whether that is actually an acceptable way to conduct your time as an MP, and indeed when there are decisions being made around transport, around the role of airlines and what might be approved or blocked, particularly when it comes to things like Qatar wanting to operate more flights into Australia, ultimately being knocked back by the Federal Government. Are there larger questions here about the influence of Qantas and other airlines on MPs?
GILES: Well, Paul, I think what people can see is the importance of transparency, people making disclosures, and I think if anyone looks fairly at the record of the Government, you'll have seen us do a range of things that Qantas were very, very unhappy about, particularly in the industrial relations space, and I think there's a real contrast, of course, again, to the attitude of the former government.
What we have seen is a government that is committed to being transparent and members that are.
CULLIVER: Okay. You can use the word "transparency" but if we don't get a specific answer about the Prime Minister soliciting upgrades or not, I'm not sure we've achieved that level of transparency that you're talking about there.
GILES: Well, I think he gave an answer to that question, and I also know that people can look at the decisions that we've made. It's very clear that we have taken a very different view to the management of that business on a large number of occasions, as my colleague, Senator Watt, set out in some detail yesterday.
CULLIVER: All right. Should MPs continue to be able to receive upgrades?
GILES: Well, I should say that I have received upgrades, and I have declared them. I think the appropriate course of action is to do so, and to have strict adherence to the rules that are set out.
CULLIVER: All right. Obviously this, paired along with the commentary and the reporting around the Prime Minister's purchasing of a property at Copacabana, $4.3 million, the reported price for that, there are these sort of ‑ a growing conversation around the Prime Minister and whether he's sort of out of touch; he has this access to a life that is far beyond the reach of a regular Australian. Are you concerned about the debate that is currently happening around the Prime Minister?
GILES: Well, I think that's a debate that's of greater interest to members of the media than to the wider community. They see how hard the Prime Minister works. They see, and certainly, I get this from my constituents, they are much more focused on what we as a government and he as the leader of the government are doing for Australians; obviously in the area of skills and training, in the area of pursuing all of our national interest issues around securing a future that's made in Australia, around effecting the net zero transition, about ensuring that we have built the care workforce that we need. These are the things that our government is focused on, and these are the things that, frankly, the Australian community are interested in hearing about, visions for the future.
CULLIVER: All right. Will the Prime Minister lead this party to the next election?
GILES: He will. I'm incredibly proud of the leadership he provides to the Government and to the nation.
CULLIVER: All right. Minister, I appreciate your time today and for coming to Newcastle. Thanks for your time.
GILES: Always good to be here, and great to be talking with you.