House debates Questions without Notice

Apprenticeships

Wednesday, 18 October 2006 House of Representatives

Jenny Macklin

Jenny Macklin Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition

2:00 pm

My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware that in Sydney today his government’s spin machine is casting for electricians to appear in the latest round of taxpayer funded advertising, this time on apprenticeships? Is the Prime Minister aware that the talent for this professional and well-paid job will earn $500 an hour for a minimum of four hours? Will the advertisement also tell the truth about the wages apprentice electricians earn—as little as $6.37 an hour?

John Howard

John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister

I am not specifically aware of those matters; however, the government, like former governments, provides public information through public information campaigns.