Despite Victoria facing a ballooning youth unemployment rate of 14.4 per cent, Tony Abbott has cut $950 million from the Trade Training Centres in schools program locking 354 Victorian schools out of ever having a Trade Training Centre.
Federal Member for Ballarat Catherine King said the decision to cut Trade Training Centres while youth unemployment continues to rise demonstrates Tony Abbott is ignoring issues facing young people in Victoria.
“Victorians are already suffering from a growing unemployment crisis, and regional areas like Ballarat are hardest hit, with a youth unemployment rate of 17 per cent.
“Why is Tony Abbott cutting programs like Trade Training Centres which help prepare our young people for the jobs of the future?
“There were thirteen schools in the Ballarat region that could have applied for a Trade Training Centre, but thanks to Tony Abbott these schools and hundreds of students will miss out on this important opportunity.
“By denying Victorian students access to Trade Training Centres the Abbott Government will just make youth unemployment worse, and deprive our young people of a fair shot at getting a job.”
The May Budget also cut all three federal youth unemployment prevention programs – Youth Connections, Partnership Brokers and National Career Advice, together with the National Job Guide. Programs which help young Australians finish year 12, get work experience and understand their options for the future.
Labor funded the construction of a Trade Training Centre at Ballarat Christian College that was completed in 2014.
Source: LFR Area Profile – October 2014 http://lmip.gov.au/default.aspx?LMIP/DownloadableData/LabourForceRegionLFR