Senator for the ACT Kate Lundy, Candidate for Canberra Gai Brodtmann, Candidate for Fraser Andrew Leigh and Second Senate Candidate David Mathews today welcomed the Gillard Government’s announcement of a new National Trade Cadetship program.
Senator for the ACT Kate Lundy said Trade Cadets would be the electricians, carpenters and tradies of tomorrow.
The Cadetships will be open to students from Year 9 to 12 and will help to ensure they have the skills and experience to be job-ready and start a trade.
“I know families want their children to have the best education and training,” Candidate for Canberra Gai Brodtmann said.
“That’s why we’re offering a new pathway to trades and technical careers.
“While we’re rolling out Trade Training Centres and the Trade Cadets programs, Tony Abbott wants to scrap them,” Candidate for Fraser Andrew Leigh said.
“Under Tony Abbott, 1.2 million Australian students would miss out on the opportunity to learn a trade at over 1,800 high schools.
“I call on Senator Gary Humphries and the ACT Liberal Candidates to come clean about whether they support Tony Abbott’s plan to axe trades funding promised to our local high schools, and if they support the National Trade Cadetship,” Senator Lundy said.
Federal Labor will provide $3.1 million over two years to establish the Cadetships, which will be delivered as part of the National Curriculum.
This funding will be fully offset over the forward estimates, consistent with the Gillard Labor Government’s commitment to return the budget to surplus in three years.
