Small Biz Commissioner considering WorkReady review
The state’s Small Business Commissioner is considering a review into the Weatherill Government’s contentious skills training reforms.
The WorkReady regime has had private training providers up in arms since it emerged the Government planned to shift the bulk of subsidised training programs to TAFE from next month, instead of the existing 50-50 split.
Caroline Graham, who manages Regional Skills Training (RST), has written to Small Business Commissioner John Chapman, requesting an immediate review.
“I also request that you advocate for small business on this issue,” she tells Chapman.
“Even if a private provider is more cost effective in providing the training, it still goes to TAFE … the effect of this is over 1000 jobs will be lost out of the private training sector, which is dominated by small businesses.”
Graham argues there is a precedent for such a review, after the Office of the Small Business Commissioner stepped in when the Government outsourced its stationery supplies contract to overseas firms in 2013.
Chapman told InDaily the request was “something I’m considering at the moment”.
“I’m not going to make an assessment on it (now) – I need to have a look at it and think about what the options are,” he said.
Graham is leaving no stone unturned in her fight against the training shakeup – she has also written to Regional Development Minister Geoff Brock, “respectfully requesting” him to “reconsider your previous advice that this issue was the responsibility of Higher Education and Skills Minister Gail Gago”.
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She said RST serves around 600 students in regional and remote SA, and “if this decision proceeds staff cuts within RST will commence within a month”, reducing them to fewer than 10 within 10 months.
“As a result of this decision, the most important courses for the Primary Industry sector will cease … As the minister responsible for Regional Development I want you to understand the impact and represent my views to cabinet,” she wrote.
“Your silence on this matter has been deafening.”
A spokesman for Geoff Brock said the minister was “quite happy to meet with her”, and it was just a question of how this could be facilitated.
