Opposition disputes number of South Australians in traineeships in 2018-19 financial year

More than 10,000 South Australians had started training in the first nine months of the 2018-19 financial year, according to a recent Government report. But the Opposition doesn’t agree.

Young South Australians are signing up to enough apprenticeships and traineeships for the state to secure its first benchmark payment under a national partnership.

Innovation and Skills Minister David Pisoni said more than 10,000 South Australians had started training in the first nine months of the 2018-19 financial year.

Innovation and Skills Minister David Pisoni.

A report to the Commonwealth Government on the progress of the scheme — which contains data up to April this year — showed the initiative was on track, Mr Pisoni said.

He hailed it as an “early milestone” in the Skilling South Australia initiative.

The State Government hopes to create 20,800 new apprenticeships and traineeships under the $202 million national partnership.

“The Marshall Government is committed to reversing the historical decline in enrolments in traineeships and apprenticeships and building a workforce that’s equipped to deliver on the needs of industry and respond to the wave of economic opportunity on the horizon,” Mr Pisoni said.

But Labor industry and skills spokeswoman Clare Scriven said “independent data” did not tell the same story as Mr Pisoni’s figures.

She said recently released National Centre for Vocational Education Research figures showed apprenticeship starts had declined by 670 in 2018, calling into question whether the State Government would get anywhere near the target.

Apprenticeship starts dropped to 8025 in 2018, compared to 8695 in 2017.

“I believe the data from the independent umpire over Mr Pisoni’s office every day of the week,” she said.

“I have asked Mr Pisoni on many occasions how many new apprenticeships will be delivered each year to achieve the 20,800 new apprenticeships but he refuses to answer.”

Twenty thousand over four years means we would expect 5200 each year.

Instead, we have seen a significant decline.”