Dutton promises Darwin a new college for apprentices and traineeships

A new Australian Technical College, one of 12 to be built around Australia to support hundreds of secondary school students take up skills training, will be built in Darwin if a Dutton Coalition Government is elected on May 3.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley, as they toured the Hunter Trade College in Telarah. Picture: Richard Dobson / Newswire

A new Australian Technical College, one of 12 to be built around Australia to support hundreds of secondary school students take up skills training, will be built in Darwin if a Dutton Coalition Government is elected on May 3.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Skills and Training, Sussan Ley is committing up to $19 million to a partnership with the Finocchiaro CLP Government.

The Finocchiaro CLP Government which will provide a co-contribution to the new school either in the form of existing infrastructure and or land and will be streamlined with the existing Finocchiaro CLP Government’s Secondary Reform program.

The Darwin Australian Technical College will be specialist skills schools for years 10-12 or 11-12. Students are enrolled in a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship as well as academic and business courses that lead to a Year 12 Certificate.

Shadow Minister Ley said building a new Australian Technical College in Darwin would give young people the opportunity to get a head start on in-demand skills and benefit the city and the entire Territory.

A new trade college has been promised for Darwin

“Lisa Bayliss has advocated strongly for Solomon and she is delivering for Darwin with this commitment,” Ms Ley said.

Country Liberal Party candidate for Solomon, Lisa Bayliss said the promise was “a huge win for Darwin and the Northern Territory”.

She said she was excited to have secured Darwin as one of the 12 nationwide locations.

“This new Australian Technical College will help us to skill our next generation,” she said.

“It will help us to build the homes we need, back our manufacturers and resource sector with local workers and to care for our growing and ageing population.

“Our region needs more skilled workers across the board and this commitment will mean that young people in our region will have better pathways into better skilled jobs.”

Shadow Minister for Education, Sarah Henderson said the investment is part of the Coalition’s back to basics approach to education “to drive improved school performance and student learning outcomes”.

“Our plan also includes our commitment to return the apprentice and trainee pipeline to over 400,000; our $12,000 small and medium business apprentice and trainee wage support; and our $5,000 to $10,000 apprentice wage supplements through our Key Apprentice Program,” she said.

NT Trade, Business and Asian Relations Minister Robyn Cahill said the Finocchiaro Government supports the benefits a tech college will bring to the Territory.

“The Coalition’s plan for a tech college in Darwin will help provide Territory teens with the skills for the trades the Territory needs and ensures businesses can have the skilled workers of the future to grow their business and help rebuild our economy,” she said.

“The tech college will give Territory students a significant head start in an apprenticeship or traineeship before they even complete Year 12 so will a big boost for the students’ futures.”

Originally published as Dutton promises Darwin a new college for apprentices and traineeships