Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

We are dramatically increasing support for workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. The $75 million targeted Productivity Places Program will make 10,000 training places available to help retrenched workers update and upgrade their skills. This is in addition to the 10,000 structural adjustment places which were announced last October. The $950 learning and training bonus will also ease the cost of study for people on social security undertaking approved courses. There is the $145 million Securing Apprenticeships program, which will give employers incentives to take on apprentices who have been retrenched before completing their training. We are spending $298 million over the next two years to give retrenched workers immediate, intensive and personalised help to find new jobs. It is a pity the opposition was not prepared to stand behind such measures. (Time expired)