In respect of phase 2 of the Productivity Places Program for up-skilling existing workers—

(1)   How many places were made available between 1 July and 31 December 2008?

(2)   How many places were filled?

(3)   Of these places, how many were in (a) New South Wales, (b) Queensland, (c) Victoria, (d) Western Australia, (e) South Australia, (f) Tasmania, (g) the Northern Territory, and (h) the Australian Capital Territory.

(4)   What was the financial contribution from (a) New South Wales, (b) Queensland, (c) Victoria, (d) Western Australia, (e) South Australia, (f) Tasmania, (g) the Northern Territory, and (h) the Australian Capital Territory.

(5)   What was the financial contribution from the Commonwealth Government for (a) New South Wales, (b) Queensland, (c) Victoria, (d) Western Australia, (e) South Australia, (f) Tasmania, (g) the Northern Territory, and (h) the Australian Capital Territory.

(6)   When did the first worker commence training in (a) New South Wales, (b) Queensland, (c) Victoria, (d) Western Australia, (e) South Australia, (f) Tasmania, (g) the Northern Territory, and (h) the Australian Capital Territory.

(7)   What was the Employer Contribution for (a) New South Wales, (b) Queensland, (c) Victoria, (d) Western Australia, (e) South Australia, (f) Tasmania, (g) the Northern Territory, and (h) the Australian Capital Territory.

(8)   How was the Employer Contribution collected in (a) New South Wales, (b) Queensland, (c) Victoria, (d) Western Australia, (e) South Australia, (f) Tasmania, (g) the Northern Territory, and (h) the Australian Capital Territory.

(9)   How many enrolments were received in (a) New South Wales, (b) Queensland, (c) Victoria, (d) Western Australia, (e) South Australia, (f) Tasmania, (g) the Northern Territory, and (h) the Australian Capital Territory.

(10)   How many commencements made were in (a) New South Wales, (b) Queensland, (c) Victoria, (d) Western Australia, (e) South Australia, (f) Tasmania, (g) the Northern Territory, and (h) the Australian Capital Territory.

(11)   How many completions were achieved in (a) New South Wales, (b) Queensland, (c) Victoria, (d) Western Australia, (e) South Australia, (f) Tasmania, (g) the Northern Territory, and (h) the Australian Capital Territory.

(12)   What are the top 30 qualifications by numbers enrolled?

(1)   Between 1 July and 31 December 2008, 9547 existing worker places were allocated to States and Territories through a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). In addition to the MoUs with the States and Territories, up to $3 million for 1250 training places will be provided through a series of National Enterprise Productivity Places Program trials. Through this partnership arrangement, the Australian Government will cover up to 50 per cent of the cost for training places for existing workers and national enterprises will provide the remaining funding.

(2)   States and Territories have indicated that allocated training places for existing workers will be filled by the expiration of their MoU.

(3)   Table 1 provides the MoU targets by State and Territory. Table1: Training Places - Memorandum of Understandings with States and Territories

	NSW	VIC	QLD	WA	SA	TAS	ACT	NT	TOTAL
Existing Workers	0	0	2 000	1 000	1 537	350	0	180	5 067
Health Occupations	1 485	1 119	884	444	343	108	54	43	4 480
Total	1 485	1 119	2 884	1 444	1 880	458	54	223	9 547

(4)   The State and Territory financial contributions under the terms of the MoU are shown in Table 2. Existing worker places will be jointly funded by the Australian Government (50 per cent), State and Territory Governments (40 per cent) and a private contribution (10 per cent). At the March 2008 meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) the Australian Government agreed to fund fully the government contribution for the cost of the 4500 priority health places that COAG agreed to make available from 31 July to 31 December 2008. This additional funding contribution will be recognised in the financial arrangements for Phase III of the Program from 1 January 2009 so that that State contribution for these places is ultimately 40 per cent and the Australian Government’s 50 per cent. All States and Territories, except South Australia and the ACT, have taken up the Australian Government’s offer. Table 2: Funding Contributions - Memorandum of Understandings with State and Territories

	NSW $m	VIC $m	QLD $m	WA $m	SA $m	TAS $m	ACT $m	NT $m	TOTAL $m
Australian Government	3.675 (90%)	2.612 (90%)	4.938 (62%)	2.454 (62%)	2.587 (50%)	0.749 (59%)	0.114 (50%)	0.355 (58%)	14.872
State/Territory	0.000 (0%)	0.00 (0%)	2.200 (28%)	1.100 (28%)	2.069 (40%)	0.385 (31%)	0.091 (40%)	0.198 (32%)	6.043
Private	0.408 (10%)	0.290 (10%)	0.793 (10%)	0.395 (10%)	0.517 (10%)	0.125 (10%)	0.022 (10%)	0.061 (10%)	2.611
Total	4.083	0.29	7.931	3.949	5.173	1.259	0.227	0.614	23.526

(5)   The Australian Government’s contribution is shown in Table 2.

(6)   States and Territories are not required to report on the date when the first existing worker commenced training within the period of the MoU.

(7)   The private contribution is shown in Table 2.

(8)   The process for defining, securing and collecting the 10 per cent private contribution is determined by each State and Territory. Generally, Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) will manage the collection and reporting of the 10 per cent contribution. A summary of the arrangements in each State and Territory is provided below.

• In New South Wales RTOs will manage the collection of the contribution and be required to keep auditable records of the contributions collected. The New South Wales Department of Education will deduct 10 per cent off the purchase price of the qualification from the payment to the RTO for the delivery of the qualification.
• In Victoria the contribution will be secured through the current fees and charges system operating in Victoria.
• In Queensland the contribution will be collected and accounted for through current fees and charges system, or through special provisions under new contracts.
• In Western Australia RTOs will collect the fee payable.
• In South Australia RTOs will collect the fee payable. When applying for places RTOs are required to demonstrate how a minimum of 10 per cent contribution will be provided.
• In Tasmania RTOs will collect the 10 per cent contribution and will be required to report on collections.
• In the ACT the contribution will be paid directly to the RTO.
• In the Northern Territory the collection of the 10 per cent contribution will be a component of the contract arrangements with successful RTOs therefore it will be the responsibility of the RTO to account for the contributions required.

(9)   to (11) It is anticipated that all places will be allocated and training commenced by the expiration of the MoUs. Data on enrolments, commencements and completions in the existing worker pilots, has not yet been received. Queensland and South Australia have provided progress reports. Both reports indicated that the PPP is in early stages of implementation. South Australia received applications for more than the target number of places and expects to deliver more than the target number of places.

(12)   This information is not yet available.