Territory families, battlers, the young are big winners in federal budget

Young Territorians like apprentice Henry Playford are the big winners in the Morrison Federal Government Budget.

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YOUNG Territorians like Bridge Toyota Darwin apprentice Henry Playford are the big winners in the Morrison Federal Government Budget.

So too are single parents trying to get into the housing market, and Territory parents with at least two kids in childcare and low-and middle-income earners.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg federal budget has a big focus on skills and training for young apprentices like Henry and the NT Government could not be happier. Around $500m dollars has been designated towards creating another 163,000 places on the government’s JobTrainer scheme and there will be broader-based training programs aimed at long term unemployed.

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Importantly an extra $2.7bn is there to extend the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements program.

The skills and training focus comes at the same time the Territory’s GTNT Group – responsible for the program and delivery of apprenticeships in the Territory – has received a record number of contracted apprenticeships and traineeships in 2021, on par with the highest figures recorded in the Inpex boom of 2015.

Bridge Toyota Darwin apprentice Henry Playford with Paul Kirby MLA. Picture: SUPPLIED

As of yesterday there were 3900 active positions and it’s expected the figure will increase over coming months. This is an increase of 180 per cent from the 2020 figures.

“This is a hugely exciting time for the industry, especially off the back of a global pandemic,” GTNT CEO Kathryn Stenson said.

Apprenticeships in the Territory are jointly funded by the NT and federal governments. The Territory holds the only dual Australian Apprenticeship Support Network contract between the federal and NT governments.

GTNT work with a number of Registered Training Organisations and businesses to deliver the traineeship and apprenticeship program throughout the NT.

Territory Jobs and Training Minister Paul Kirby with two apprenticeships under his belt is thrilled to see this level of uptake for apprenticeships and traineeships as the NT builds the workforce it needs.

In other good news for Territory families low-and middle-income earners will get tax cuts and from July and the childcare subsidy for families with two or more children aged five and under will increase to a maximum of 95 per cent. Council on the Ageing (COTA) Australia has welcomed the very substantial package for an overhaul of the aged care system over the next five years, supported by additional expenditure of $17.7bn over four years.

Chamber of Commerce NT and the Master Builders NT have both applauded the federal government’s investment in jobs and training young Territorians.

“Anything that increases participation and investment is a good thing and is going to boost productivity,” Chamber of Commerce NT chief executive officer Greg Ireland said.

“Apprenticeships is absolutely key to our skill base moving forward as well as the JobTrainer.”

Master Builders chief executive Dave Malone said the federal budget delivered good economics linked up with good social policy. “Businesses will always want a growing economy with sensible policies around tax, training, and infrastructure and we saw those tonight,” he said.