Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, Senator the Hon Scott Ryan, today visited JC Butko Engineering in Wodonga and The Houseboat Factory in Eildon to hear about the importance of skills training in building a stronger future for Indi.

Joining him was Mrs Sophie Mirabella, the Liberal Candidate for Indi.

“Meeting the team at JC Butko Engineering in Wodonga and the family owned Houseboat Factory in Eildon has shown me how important it is to support both apprentices and employers,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“Over the past three years, the Liberal Party has kept its promise to provide $20,000 Trade Support Loans to eligible apprentices and has invested in programmes to help employers train and retain quality apprentices.”

The Turnbull Government has restored support for employers of apprentices after Labor gutted the sector. Between 2011 and 2013, Labor cut employer incentive payments by $1.2 billion resulting in a record decline in apprenticeship commencements.

“The Turnbull Government has boosted apprenticeship support. All of our programs focus on attracting the right apprentice to the right apprenticeship, attracting more apprentices into areas of need, supporting apprentices to complete their training and helping employers to retain apprentices,” Minister Ryan said.

“The Turnbull Government is supporting young Australians by getting them ready, giving them a go and getting them a job through our $840 million Youth Employment Package. As part of this package, the Government’s Prepare Trial Hire (PaTH) initiative will assist young Australians get into jobs and apprenticeships.”

“Employers who hire an eligible job seeker as an apprentice under the PaTH initiative can benefit from the up to $10,000 Youth Bonus wage subsidy in addition to applicable incentives of up to $4,000 under the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme.”

“The Coalition’s economic plan will deliver a strong new economy with more than 200,000 new jobs for Australian workers,” Minister Ryan said. “Only the Turnbull Government is committed to a stronger, more diversified, more innovative 21st century economy”.