The Liberals will invest $750,000 to establish an Advanced Welding Training Centre in Burnie to train and skill up local welding apprentices and workers from Tasmanian businesses.
Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham and Liberal Candidate for Braddon Brett Whiteley announced the funding during a visit to Jayben Australia in Cooee today.
This funding will allow for the purchase of five state-of-the-art welding simulators, and advanced technical training to help upskill TasTAFE trainers
“We’re backing local business, local apprentices and TAFE educators with specialised world-class training,” Minister Birmingham said
“High quality skills means local businesses have job-ready apprentices so they can grow and take advantage of the opportunities of Tasmania’s stronger economy and reputation as a world-leader in supporting the defence, maritime and advanced manufacturing sectors.
“These new welding simulators and training opportunities will help make North West Tasmania a skills hub. They will give local businesses the workers with the right skills and training to do the job.
“Combined with the Turnbull Government’s new Skilling Australians Fund that’s set to support an extra 5000 apprenticeships across Tasmania, this funding will ensure local businesses can grow and compete for contracts, locally, nationally and internationally.”
Mr Whiteley said the Turnbull Government’s support for North West Tasmanian apprentices, workers and small businesses would make the area a skills leader.
“We know small businesses are the engine room of the local economy,” Mr Whiteley said.
“Every successful business knows how important high-quality skills are and these welding simulators and extra training will give North West Tasmania a leading edge.
“This training boost has the potential to help more than 250 local metal businesses so they can take on more customers and hire more people.
“It also helps support the key role North West Tasmania is playing as a powerhouse in advanced manufacturing.
“The Turnbull Government is backing businesses across Braddon and Tasmania with lower taxes and support through initiatives like these, while Justine Keay and Labor want to hurt them by increasing taxes and reducing their ability to compete overseas.”
Mr Whiteley said that the Training Centre would be located at the Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council (TMEC) Centre of Excellence in South Burnie.
The Turnbull Government’s funding commitment includes:
- $650,000 enabling TMEC to purchase five state-of the-art welding simulators
- $100,000 to ensure local TasTAFE trainers have the skills and knowledge to deliver world-class training and to support the training and retraining of new and existing industry workers.