Debate resumed from 28 February, on motion by Senator Scullion:

That this bill be now read a second time.

upon which Senator Carr had moved by way of amendment:

At the end of the motion add:

“but the Senate considers that the present Government has been complacent and neglectful about the Australian economy by:

(a)

presiding over a skills crisis through its continued failure over more than 10 long years in office to ensure Australians get the training they need to get a skilled job and meet the skills needs of the economy;

(b)

failing to make the necessary investments in our schools and TAFE systems to create opportunities for young Australians to access high quality vocational education and training, including at schools;

(c)

failing to increase the number of school-based traditional apprentices and provide funding support for schools in taking up the places;

(d)

creating expensive, inefficient, stand alone colleges, without cooperation with the States within the existing Vocational Education and Training framework;

(e)

riding roughshod over the States and Territories in establishing these Colleges, despite the role the States and Territories play in vocational education and training;

(f)

making Australian industry wait until 2010 for the Australian Technical Colleges to produce their first qualified tradesperson;

(g)

failing to provide support to other regions that have skill shortages, but are not listed for a Technical College”.