Press Conference, Launceston

MINISTER FOR SKILLS AND TRAINING ANDREW GILES: Good morning everyone. I'm so pleased to be here in sunny Launceston this morning with Minister Ellis to make a significant announcement, but also to talk a little bit about what the National Skills Agreement, the partnership between the Albanese Government, all the states, including especially Tasmania. Although I won't speak on behalf of Felix in that regard, what this agreement means in terms of meeting our shared national challenges and in particular delivering for Tasmanians. We know that Fee-Free TAFE in particular has been a great success for Tasmania. More than 6000 Tasmanians have taken up the opportunity to build a new career, to gain skills and also to gain really important cost of living relief by taking courses that save them thousands of dollars while meeting our skills challenges for them and for our shared future.

In addition to this more than 6000 places, I'm here to make a really significant announcement which is again part of the partnership between our governments. This will enable 410 Tasmanians to obtain Fee-Free TAFE places in construction, including pre-apprenticeship places. So, standing here where we are building new social housing is a great symbol for what this partnership will deliver. 410 people will get the opportunity to build good jobs in the trades and be part of building communities and meeting our shared housing challenge. One of the great challenges that every government around Australia is confronting and something that every Australian is concerned about.

This is one part of a much bigger picture because we know we've got so much to do to build the skills that Australians and Tasmanians need. Nine out of ten jobs in the future require a post-school qualification. I think Australian families understand that. What they've all got to understand though is that half of those jobs don't mean a degree, they need a trade qualification. Fee-Free TAFE is opening a door. It's a passport to a good job and a good life for so many people. I'm so excited that Tasmania has led the way in the uptake of Fee-Free TAFE places. And I'm so excited to be here today with Minister Ellis working together to ensure that Tasmanians, young Tasmanians and older Tasmanians who are maybe thinking about a career change, are going to have an opportunity to change their life and build our future. Over to you, Felix.

FELIX ELLIS, MINISTER FOR HOUSING AND PLANNING: Thanks Andrew. Thank you all for being here today. This is a wonderful partnership between Tasmania and the Federal Government. It's delivering more training opportunities for Tasmanian tradies. It's providing cost of living relief for young apprentices and other people that want to get into the construction industry, which is one of the most exciting industries there is. It's also important that we're delivering a skilled workforce that can build the homes that Tasmanians need.

Whether we're talking social housing like here in Rocherlea, or we're talking private dwellings and rentals right around Tasmania. We need skilled tradies to get on the tools and to deliver these homes for everyday Tasmanians. So, it's a wonderful partnership, it continues to build and grow on our partnership, delivering Fee-Free TAFE and other vocational education training opportunities for everyday Tasmanians. We're also really focused on ensuring that there's opportunities for people of a non-traditional background to get into the trades because we know this is a wonderful industry where you can make great money and start a business too. So, we'll be working closely with the Federal Government to ensure that there are more opportunities for groups like women and migrants and others who want to get on the tools and help to build Tasmania's future. Look with that, I'll pass over to you guys from CHL.

JAMIE RAM, COMMUNITY HOUSING LIMITED: Yes. Hi, I'm Jamie Ram from CHL. This is a fantastic announcement, coming from a background - a trade background myself, and I think this really provides us career paths for potential apprentices wanting to start off a new trade, potentially stay in the industry. We've got an ageing industry, I think here in Tasmania, the older guys could do with some young help here, and I think this is a great pathway, an incentive from the federal and state governments. So, really pleased it's been announced, this announcement, on our particular site. We've had some females on this site, 33 apprentices have been through the site for the duration of the project. So, again a great outcome and it's nice to see this sort of incentive to promote our industry and get that new supply on the ground as we so desperately need.

GILES: Questions on this one guys?

JOURNALIST: Is this like a continuation of the Fee-Free places that were available this year or is it new courses being added to the mix?

ELLIS: No, that's right, it's new courses added to the mix from next year. So, we really encourage people, if you're thinking about learning courses in construction, then this is a great way of doing that. We'll have a strong focus on things like pre-apprenticeship courses that can help people to get into the industry. And as I mentioned before, we're also looking at opportunities to back in people from non-traditional groups to come into the construction industry and get on the tools.

JOURNALIST: What are you doing to encourage people from non-traditional groups into construction?

ELLIS: There's a range of different approaches that we're taking. We're working really closely with all the industry bodies that are part of the construction sector. They've had a real focus on growing this female participation in particular. For far too long, construction have been missing out on way too many good people because it hasn't been seen as a place for women to get an opportunity. So, we're working strongly to reverse that. Tasmania's had really some nation-leading programs in terms of getting women onto the tools, and we want to continue to grow and build those opportunities with, for example, NECA, the national body for, or the representative body for electricians and a whole range of other industry bodies that are really looking to back in training opportunities for women and other people that haven't seen construction as an opportunity before.

JOURNALIST: And is it jointly funded by both governments?

ELLIS: No. So, we fund significant funding into the skills sector but this is the Federal Government stepping up and delivering 410 new places. It's part of our national agreement, but it's really pleasing to see the Federal Government having a really strong lean into this area. Cool. Happy?

GILES: Any questions for me?

JOURNALIST: Yes, but it's on a different topic. Okay, so when will Minister Plibersek make a decision on the future of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbor?

GILES: Yeah, under the laws which were, of course, introduced by John Howard. This is a personal decision for the Minister. She's got to make sure that all of the requirements have been considered so she'll do so when she's had an opportunity to go through all of those matters.

JOURNALIST: Is there any indication of what that timeframe could look like?

GILES: Well, no, I think people appreciate that it's important that any decision that's made is legally robust and that all matters have been properly dealt with.

JOURNALIST: Is the Federal Government willing to do its bit to support the South East Irrigation Scheme and help Tassie farmers?

GILES: Well, I think it is the case that the Albanese Government has invested more in Tasmanian water infrastructure than anywhere else. And these are obviously matters that are part of our budget process and would be under consideration in the normal budget process.

JOURNALIST: And is making sure there's enough workers to build a Hobart stadium a priority for the Federal Government?

GILES: Well, making sure we've got skilled trades workers for everything is a big priority for our government. It's what today's announcement is about. 410 more opportunities for Tasmanians to get important construction skills, particularly to deal with housing, because we know we need to be building more houses. As Felix was just saying, we've got a real focus on making sure that these opportunities are extended to people who may not have seen a job in the trades as something that was in their future, particularly women, people from migrant backgrounds. Making sure that we are looking at the whole population when we open up these opportunities to give more people the opportunity to get a good trade and the good life that comes with it.

JOURNALIST: Nick McKim is set to run in the next federal election. When can we expect to hear more about federal Labor candidates?

GILES: Look, I'm not particularly concerned about what Nick McKim's going to do in the next federal election. I do know that Tasmanian Labor will go through its pre-selection processes. I'm not across the timing, but I'm sure you'll find out in due course. The election’s not till some time away from now.

JOURNALIST: There's calls for reforms to the retirement village sector. Is that something that the Federal Government's considering?

GILES: I think this is probably more a matter for Minister Ellis in terms of the regulation of retirement villages. And we're obviously very concerned as a national government to ensure that older Australians can continue to live lives with dignity and be supported. Responding to the recommendations of that shocking royal commission which exposed neglect, ensuring that we're putting nurses back in nursing home, boosting the wages of aged care workers, and in fact ensuring that more people have the opportunity to work in that really important care sector. But the issue of the regulation of retirement villages and I acknowledge there's been some really concerning media reports from the national broadcast I think last night, that regulation is principally a matter for the states.

JOURNALIST: Would the Federal Government do any kind of investigation into the practices that are occurring?

GILES: Well again, these are matters that go to state regulation. I think we continue to be concerned about ensuring that every older Australian has every opportunity to live a life of dignity. That's what people deserve who've contributed throughout their life. But again, I don't want to cut across matters of state regulation. Thanks very much, everyone.

JOURNALIST: Thank you. Mister Ellis? Maybe just staying on that one then. Is that something that the Tasmanian government would consider? The regulation of retirement villages?

ELLIS: So, Tasmania has actually quite recently made some changes in this space to better protect people who have a lease, for example, with a retirement village. Always open to considering further, but it's probably more one for the relevant Minister to provide some more background on.

JOURNALIST: Is your government's mismanagement of the budget to blame for cutbacks in major infrastructure projects such as the Tasman Bridge and the Tamar Bridge?

ELLIS: Let's be really clear. We're delivering significant new infrastructure for this state, intergenerational infrastructure that Tasmanians will be able to use for decades to come. And whether that's houses like the ones that you see around us, $500 million as part of the most recent budget, or its other significant built infrastructure too. We're seeing the incredible Bridgewater Bridge come out of the water, and that's a $700 million project. $763 million for the Tasmanian government radio network that ensures that our first responders can have world-leading communications in some of the most difficult events that we see in our state. These are the kind of investments that you make when you've got an eye to the future, a long-term plan and a desire to ensure that Tasmanians can have the infrastructure that we deserve.

So, there are obviously some projects that we need to work through. We're strong supporters of the Tamar Bridge and we'll be, of course, working with the Federal Government when it comes to progressing that further. In terms of the specifics of the Tasman bridge, I know that there are some infrastructure challenges that made that particular project unfeasible. But more broadly, we're always looking to invest more in infrastructure, and it's part of the reason why the Tasmanian government needs to continue to invest in that long-term infrastructure for our future.

JOURNALIST: When does the Federal Government need to make a decision about salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour?

ELLIS: Look, this is urgent. It's urgent for Tasmanians who work hard every day to provide the food that feeds the world. So, we want to see that the Federal Government step up into this space and provide certainty for West Coast workers.

JOURNALIST: Has the decision been delayed for too long?

ELLIS: That's certainly our view. We want to see certainty provided to West Coast workers. And salmon farming, let's be clear, it leads the world. Here in Tasmania, we do extraordinary things, and we look after our environment well. We get the balance right. We're providing jobs and opportunities for Tasmanians and also caring for our environment. So, we want to see certainty for them. And we want the Minister to make a decision in a timely fashion.

JOURNALIST: In your electorate of Braddon, do you think salmon farming is going to be a big election issue?

ELLIS: Absolutely. Do you want me to say anything more?

JOURNALIST: Yeah, maybe if you just expand.

ELLIS: Yeah, for sure. Look, it's critical. We want to make sure that the jobs of the future are delivered in Braddon. So, whether that's feeding the world, whether that's the mining industry that will ensure that we have the materials that we need to build our future, or energy projects that are going to provide jobs and opportunities for Tasmanians for decades to come, we've seen far too often our region used as a whipping boy when it comes to these important projects and these vital industries. So, no doubt this salmon, and other key projects when it comes to mining, energy and forestry will be a key election issue.

JOURNALIST: Thank you.

ELLIS: Thank you.