– WITH DAVID SMITH MP, MEMBER FOR BEAN
On Friday 26 August, my ACT federal government colleagues and I held the ACT Jobs and Skills Forum at Parliament House. The Forum was in the lead-up to the National Jobs and Skills Summit to ensure that as many stakeholders’ views were heard as possible to help inform the National Summit.
The Forum brought together business groups, unions, higher education representatives, civil society, and governments to address shared economic challenges and opportunities. As the Forum proved, Canberra has a wealth of experience and knowledge in the jobs and skills space to help inform government.
The Forum focused on a range of issues including sustainable productivity, participation, skills and training, migration, boosting job security, and lifting wages, among others. It was encouraging to see the range of delegates getting together to work constructively on these challenges and opportunities facing the ACT labour market and economy.
A notable consensus was the benefits immigration can bring to the ACT economy but that it was essential that such employees are treated fairly and free from discrimination. It was also positive that both employer groups and unions agreed that we need to upskill and support apprentices in emerging clean energy sectors, such as electricians to work in electrification. Ensuring support for apprentices is vital to building our skills base, and an opportunity to encourage placements for mature age Canberrans seeking to reskill into emerging industries.
The ACT Jobs and Skills Forum was one of more than a hundred forums and round tables held around the country. This is an extraordinary effort from everyone who participated, and it demonstrated the genuine desire across Australia to come together and work collaboratively for the common good. It is a shame that the Federal Liberal Party refused to attend in any capacity, seemingly for miscalculated politics of division rather than for the national interest.
The National Jobs and Skills Summit was a success. It set a clear direction for the work we can do to build a stronger economy with 36 initiatives for immediate action to benefit all Australians.
Skills Ministers across the country collaborated to provide funding for 180,000 fee-free TAFE places in 2023 for highest priority skills needs, such as aged care. One thousand digital apprenticeships were confirmed for the Australian Public Service, and improved jobs and training pathways for women, First Nations people, regional Australians, and culturally and linguistically diverse people were announced.
To help address workforce shortages, Aged Pensioners seeking to work can earn an additional $4,000 over this financial year without impacting their pension. Additionally, an increase in the permanent Migration Program ceiling will be lifted to 195,000, and visas will be extended for international students to strengthen the pipeline of skilled labour.
What we achieved at the Summit is just the beginning. There is still further work to do, and we will continue down the path of cooperation and collaboration so that all Australians benefit from a strong economy.
