NECA Tells Government that Industry wants Input!

In early June, peak Australian electrical industry body, the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA), attended a very productive meeting with Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, Senator the Hon Chris Evans, today to discuss skills, training, and apprenticeship issues.

NECA attended the meeting at Parliament House in Canberra to ensure the best interests of electrical and communications contractors were being heard by the people that count. NECA joined other employer associations and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), the nation’s largest and most representative business organisation to discuss matter affecting the different industries.

The Minister was keen to sit down and go through the initiatives on skills and training that were announced in the 2011 Budget, as well as how the Australian government is likely to respond to the Expert Panel on Apprenticeships.

In the Federal Budget, the government made it clear they wanted industry heavily involved in helping set up the right skills and training regime for Australia.

NECA and other business associations have long believed an industry driven-training system is vital to ensuring that the training outcomes actually meet the needs of employers and help us all achieve the shared goal of higher productivity.

“As the largest employer body, representing over 350,000 businesses, ACCI is keen to ensure that we put the “industry” into industry driven,” the ACCI Chief Executive, Peter Anderson said during the meeting at Parliament House.

“In particular, the role of the new Workplace Agency, the delivery of funding for Workforce Development and apprenticeship support, and the importance of industry input into the critical negotiations between the Commonwealth and States over the training partnership are all areas where industry needs an opportunity to actively engage with governments.”

Besides NECA, other representatives from the building and construction industry, housing, automotive and hospitality all met with the minister as did representatives from some state Chambers of Commerce. Everyone who took part came away encouraged by the opportunities the Minister outlined for greater inclusion in the planning and implementation of the skills agenda.

NECA chief executive officer, Mr James Tinslay, said the meeting was very important to demonstrate to the government that employers in the electrical and communications industry want to be the ones that shape the future training needs and not bureaucrats.

“Close co-operation is vital to ensure that we achieve the effective supply of the skilled workers needed to keep the Australian economy growing,” Mr Tinslay said.

“From an industry perspective it is refreshing to work with a minister who’s prepared to sit down with business to get this right. Getting the right training system in place is important in all industries, especially for the future of the electrical industry.”

“NECA indicated it was willing to work with the government to improve and streamline the apprenticeship system provided there was no reduction in the quality of electrical and communications tradespersons.”

NECA also believes it is essential that any changes made, such as those made to incentives in the Federal Budget, are looked at in concert with the fees and charges State Governments are imposing for training so that the full impact of these decisions can be appreciated.

“This will be critically important as attention turns to the recommendations of the Expert Panel on Apprenticeships.

“Training and skills are critical to improving productivity and ensuring that the economic benefit is more evenly spread across all businesses and their employees. NECA looks forward to continuing to work with the Australian government to truly achieve an industry-driven training system that is beneficial for all electrical and communications contractors,” Mr Tinslay said.

Source: NECA National, 8 June 2011