Basem Abdo (Calwell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Every apprentice deserves to be safe at work. That's why the Minister for Skills and Training brought colleagues together to establish a zero tolerance approach to apprentice harm, updating the national code of good practice for apprenticeships and traineeships. Governments, industry and advocates share responsibility for apprentice safety. We're working with states and territories, training providers, employers and unions to ensure every apprentice receives the training, support and protection they deserve. Research by the Electrical Trades Union found one in eight apprentice electricians has been exposed to a potentially deadly electrical shock at work, and, when classroom training is delayed, that risk doubles. That's not good enough. We must ensure our apprentices are safe in every classroom and on every job site.

Australia will need more than 100,000 additional electricians by 2050 to power the energy transition and to tackle housing. Through Apprentice Connect Australia, the $10,000 housing apprenticeship incentives and the $60 million Building Women's Careers Program, we're backing apprentices with skills, support and safe workplaces. Thank you to the ETU and to Aaron, Matt and Maya for their courage in speaking up and sharing their stories with us last week. Apprentices are a vulnerable cohort of young workers and workers new to the industry. They are the workers we need to help deliver the future of energy, housing and manufacturing, and of a future made in Australia.

See this speech in context