Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

A number of the policies that we have put in place throughout COVID-19 have well and truly assisted businesses not just to take on more apprentices but also to keep those apprentices that they have taken on. Our Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy has been an overwhelming success. The wage subsidy has put almost 277,000 Australians into an apprenticeship or traineeship, and that's in over 82,000 businesses. What a fantastic step-up for those 277,000 Australians into their new jobs, and for those 82,000 businesses. Having that government investment in those apprentices and trainees has been well and truly reflected in the fact that the 277,000 are now in apprenticeships or traineeships. During the pandemic about 38 per cent of businesses have increased the number of apprentices that they have. (Time expired)