Mr FARMER (2:29 PM) —My question is addressed to the Minister for Education, Science and Training. Will the minister advise the House of new initiatives that will make it even more attractive for employers to take on a new apprentice? Is the minister aware of any other statement or policies about this vital employment area?

The SPEAKER —The Leader of the Opposition understands his obligations, as do all members of the House. Members are entitled to be heard in silence.

Dr NELSON (Minister for Education, Science and Training) —I thank the member for Macarthur for his question. I was joined by the member for Macquarie and the member for Ryan on Tuesday morning at a wonderful event: a breakfast to celebrate the changes in the lives of eight young Australians. The NRMA have offered eight scholarships to young people in the ACT—and they have been running this program for three years in New South Wales—to support them in taking up apprenticeships in the motor body repair and spray-painting industry. Kegan Settree, a young bloke there, told me he had left school at the end of year 10. He said that, for the last two years, his life had been relatively aimless but that he had finally found something that he really wants to get into. His parents are as proud of his achievement in getting this scholarship as any one of us would be if they were getting a PhD from a university.

The member for Macarthur, himself one of seven children, left school at the age of 15. He spent two months walking from industry to industry, from workshop to workshop, trying to get an apprenticeship. Today, thanks to this government, apprenticeships and training are much easier to acquire.

The SPEAKER —I warn the member for Chisholm!

Dr NELSON —In the member for Macarthur's day, it was a lot harder to get an apprenticeship. His father said to him, `Son, if you want to set yourself up for life, you've got to get a trade.' Today, thanks to the policies of this government, there are 200,000 young Australians who are doing vocational education and training at school—

The SPEAKER —I warn the member for Lalor!

Dr NELSON —in the automotive industry, in retail, hospitality, horticulture and a whole range of areas. There are 368,000 Australians, half of them under the age of 25, doing apprenticeships and training. That represents a 13 per cent growth on the year before and, most importantly, our completions have increased by 27 per cent in the last year. Importantly, there are benefits for companies taking on apprentices in the automotive industry. Kids are doing automotive courses in school. They have already done a little training at school, which is recognised, and they can then take up the apprenticeship.

Mr Latham —Go, the rain man!

The SPEAKER —The member for Werriwa is warned.

Dr NELSON —As a result of the incentives put in place by this government, if an employer—for example, Peter Donnelly Automotive, in Campbelltown—takes on a school based apprentice, the employer will get $1,375 from this government, an extra $825 for keeping the young person at school and another $825 when that young person completes his apprenticeship having remained at school until the end of year 12.

This is about making sure we live in a country where young people have access to apprenticeships and training and that it is as highly valued as any educational or training outcome. The Labor Party, which says that it stands for training and apprenticeships, is completely obsessed with higher education, with universities. We have the collective work of the member for Jagajaga on training. Every statement or media release put out in 15 months by the member for Jagajaga on training fits into a manila folder. These reforms mean that employers find it easier to take on—

Opposition members interjecting—

The SPEAKER —The member for Grayndler is warned!

Mr Farmer —Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I asked a question of the Minister for Education, Science and Training that was of interest to people on this side of the House and I am sure of interest to most—

The SPEAKER —The member for Macarthur must have a specific point of order under the standing orders.

Mr Farmer —Under the standing orders of this House, I cannot hear the answer because of the noise and the interjections from the other side. I need to hear the answer to this question.

The SPEAKER —The member for Macarthur will resume his seat. The minister has the call.

Dr NELSON —There are some people in the Australian Labor Party who do care about apprenticeships and training—the member for Port Adelaide, the member for Greenway, the member for Banks and some others. I can only imagine what they think about the derision about apprentices from the chardonnay set on the frontbench of the ALP. This government is interested in training and giving young people a chance as apprentices. As far as the ALP is concerned, it hit rock bottom when, in 1995, only 1.1 per cent of young people in this country were apprentices in training. Today, one in three young people in full-time employment are young `Pat Farmers' of the modern Australia who are training to be apprentices, training for careers and training for jobs that are going to transform this country.