Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Energy) Share this | Hansard source

When Labor was last in office they saw the largest single decline in apprentice and trainee numbers on record: a 22 per cent fall when Labor was last in office. Between 2011 and 2013, Labor was responsible for cuts of $1.2 billion. Then, when Labor put forward its alternative plan, there was no detail around it except that we know there are $200 billion of extra taxes. The Turnbull government will be establishing a new, ongoing $1½ billion skilling Australians fund. We'll create up to 300,000 apprentices over the next four years. We will ensure through the $70 billion-plus of infrastructure spending that there are new jobs for these apprentices and for Australians around the country.

We've also introduced a number of other measures to support apprentices such as the $900 million Australian Apprenticeship Support Network to support employers to recruit, train and retain apprentices. We've introduced trade support loans, which have seen over 53,000 apprentices access up to $20,000 each in government support for their apprenticeships. We don't just talk about doing something for apprentices; we actually deliver, while Labor's promises are always on the never-never.

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