GOVERNMENT SENATORS' ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
1.1
Labor Senators support the findings and recommendations of the committee
in general terms. However, Labor Senators have some misgivings about some of
the evidence provided to the committee. Some of the evidence relied on in the
majority report may have inadvertently been less than accurate and requires
further scrutiny.
1.2
Labor Senators also note that the report has not comprehensively
reflected the current position of the Government and has overlooked recent
Government efforts which have sought to address some of the areas of concern
that are contained within the majority report. It is therefore in the interest
of the committee that this report makes note of certain Government initiatives
that are relevant to the inquiry, as a matter of public record.
Providing skills and education to support growth
1.3
The Government recognises the importance of agriculture and agribusiness
not only to the Australian community, but increasingly as a global issue.
Ensuring that we have the skilled workers necessary to support this key
industry is vital.
1.4
Through the Council of Australian Governments’ Standing Council on
Primary Industries’ productivity agenda, the Australian Government is working
with the states and territories on a ‘Building Human Capital’ project. The
project will examine how primary industries agencies may be able to influence
and address the significant issues facing the primary industries workforce. The
key focus of the project will be to explore the agribusiness sector’s brand and
how their image can be used to develop workforce initiatives to attract and
retain a future workforce that will support ongoing business and industry
productivity.
1.5
In June 2012 Agrifood Skills Australia, one of eleven Australian
Government-funded Industry Skills Councils, released its report Disruption
or evolution: The challenge facing agrifood’s employers in a time of structural
adjustment. This report is the fifth annual report into the skills and
training needs of the agrifood sector. The report identifies four areas for
priority action:
-
Attraction of new workers;
- Increasing skills levels across the workforce;
- Sharing widely the benefits of research, innovation and new
technology; and
- Improving the retention and skills use of the existing workforce.
1.6
Many groups have recently studied various aspects of agriculture
education and workforce needs including the Senate, the Chief Scientist, DAFF
(through development of the National Food Plan), the Council of Australian
Governments, the National Farmers Federation and the Business/Higher Education
Round Table. The Government also recognises that industry and employer groups
have an important role to play in this issue, and is supporting their efforts.
1.7
Funding of $14.9 million will be provided to Agrifood Skills Australia
over three years to 2014 to undertake its Industry Skills Council role. The
funding will be used to address training, skills and workforce development
needs of their industry sectors. The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) is also
exploring agricultural education and skills issues in the development of their
Blueprint for Australian Agriculture. In April 2012 Government announced that
it will provide $75 000 towards the Blueprint consultation to ensure that
the views of young people in agriculture are captured in the plan. DAFF is
providing a further $75 000 of in-kind technical support from its Australian
Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences to assist the NFF in
the development of the Blueprint.
1.8
On 19 April 2012, Minister Ludwig also announced that the National Rural
Advisory Council will pursue a new work program from July 2012, which includes
a focus on skills and the workforce planning capabilities of agricultural
employers. The National Rural Advisory Council is an independent panel of
farmers and industry experts that provides advice and information to the
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on a range of rural adjustment
issues.
Attracting students to agriculture
and agribusiness
1.9
The Gillard Government has invested in reaching out to school students
to build interest in careers in agriculture and agribusiness and provided new
opportunities for all Australian’s to access vocational education and training,
and higher education.
1.10
The cover of the 2012 Job Guide has an Australian Year of the
Farmer theme. The Job Guide provides information on a range of
occupations and their education and training pathways. The Job Guide is
funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
(DEEWR) and is distributed annually to all Australian schools with Year 10
students ensuring every student has access to the Job Guide. The Job
Guide is also distributed in small quantities to colleges with Year 11 and
12 students, to career advisers at all TAFEs and universities, as
well as youth-focused Australian Government funded programs that provide
career advice and support to Year 10 students.
1.11
There are a number of additional features throughout Job Guide
2012 to highlight the agricultural industry, these include:
- A variety of employment profiles of opportunities within the
agriculture industry. These opportunities are highlighted with the symbol of a
tractor next to specific profiles indicating an ‘agricultural job’;
- A page on ‘Careers in Agriculture’ that answers a wide range of
questions students may have including what constitutes an agricultural job; the
accessibility of agricultural jobs regardless of whether you reside in the city
or rural areas; what qualifications are required for a career in agriculture;
what the future holds for jobs in agriculture and pathways available to find a
career in the industry; and
- A Rural Studies Bullseye which shows a selection of jobs in the
industry and the four levels of education and training required for entry into
specific jobs.
1.12
The myfuture website, available at www.myfuture.edu.au, also
includes a range of career information and tools, including information on
occupations in the agricultural industry. There is the potential for career
resources developed by industry to be linked to the myfuture website. This
would consequently make the information available to career practitioners,
teachers, students and parents.
1.13
The Government also continues to work with key stakeholders, including
the Primary Industries Education Foundation (PIEF) and the Australian Council
of Deans of Agriculture (ACDA), to increase awareness of agricultural careers
and education. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is
a founding member of PIEF. The government has committed a total of
$525 000 for DAFF’s membership of PIEF from 2008-09 to 2014-15. PIEF
provides credible, relevant and factual information on all matters relating to
agriculture, fisheries and forestry for Australia's teachers, students and the
community.
1.14
In 2011, ACDA established a comprehensive careers website for
prospective students in agriculture. The project team worked with various
bodies across the agriculture and education industry to develop a resource for
education and training providers, prospective students, researchers and
professionals to easily locate information on occupations, career pathways and
education in agriculture and related fields. The resulting resource was the
CareerHarvest website. The ACDA were able to develop this website with
financial assistance from DAFF, through a Community Networks and Capacity
Building grant. The ACDA received project funding of $80 000 (GST
exclusive) for the CareerHarvest website.
1.15
Through the former Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund, the
Australian Government provided $3.6 million over 2009 to 2011 to the Primary
Industry Centre for Science Education (PICSE). In June 2012 it was announced
that PICSE would receive an additional $125,000 in funding support from DAFF to
support PICSE to develop strategies to encourage more young people to enter
primary industries and associated research and agribusiness. PICSE has now
established itself as an important body in collaborating with universities,
schools, regional communities and local primary industries, to attract students
into tertiary science and to increase the number of skilled professionals in science
based primary industries.
1.16
DAFF also provided a further $100 000 in project funding for PIEF
in 2009-10 through the Community Networks and Capacity Building program. The
funds contributed to a stock-take of curriculum resources, networks and initiatives
for school students and teachers, the development of a survey instrument to
enable benchmarking of PIEF’s activities, and a primary industries information
website. In September 2011, PIEF made a submission to the Australian
Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) curriculum consultation
process.
1.17
The Australian Government has worked in collaboration with the state and
territory governments to develop Australia’s first national curriculum. Australia’s
education ministers jointly established ACARA to develop that curriculum. In
December 2010, all education ministers endorsed Australia’s first national
curriculum from Foundation to Year 10 in English, mathematics, science and
history. The curriculum can be viewed at www.australiancurriculum.edu.au.
1.18
The next stage of ACARA’s work involves the development of an Australian
Curriculum in languages, geography and the arts. Phase three of the Australian
Curriculum development process will include the learning areas of health and
physical education, information and communication technology, design and
technology, economics, business, and civics and citizenship. ACARA has
determined, following consultation with key stakeholders, that agriculture and
primary industries is to be included as a context for learning within the
design and technology learning area.
Support for skills training
1.19
The National Workforce Development Fund is available to enterprises
operating in all sectors where there is a current or emerging skills need,
including the agriculture sector. Through the Fund, enterprises are able to
increase their workforce capacity by providing existing workers and new workers
with the opportunity to enhance their skill levels through formal training.
1.20
As at May 2012, 23 projects to the value of $6.4 million in the
agriculture sector have been approved for funding to train 1,177 learners.
The Government has contributed $3.6 million towards these projects, with
enterprises contributing $2.8 million.
1.21
A range of financial incentives are available to employers to encourage
them to offer employment related opportunities through apprenticeships and
traineeships that will encourage people to acquire and expand their working
skills and, as a result, set themselves towards worthwhile careers.
1.22
Under the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program, employers of
eligible Australian Apprentices at the Certificate III or IV level may attract
commencement and completion incentives totalling up to $4,000. Australian
Apprentices at the Certificate II level may attract a $1,250 commencement
incentive for their employer. In 2010-11, over $260 million was paid in
standard incentives for apprentices undertaking training in regional areas. In
addition, the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program also contains a
range of special and additional incentives. To boost training in rural and
regional Australia, the Government provides a $1,000 Rural and Regional Skills
Shortage Incentive. In 2010-11 over $26 million was provided under this
incentive.
1.23
In addition to employer incentives, Australian Apprentices undertaking
an Australian Apprenticeship in an agricultural or horticultural occupation may
be eligible for personal benefits, such as the Tools For Your Trade payment
initiative and Support for Adult Australian Apprenticeships. In 2010-11, over
$78 million was paid to eligible Australian Apprentices through the Tools For
Your Trade initiative, and over $36 million was paid to eligible Australian
Apprentices ($10 million) and employers ($26 million) through the Support For
Adult Australian Apprentices initiative.
Supporting agricultural and
agribusiness education
1.24
Nationally, one-third of Australian universities offer places in
agriculture-related courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with
most universities offering related courses in business and science fields. From
1 January 2012, the Australian Government is funding Commonwealth supported
places for all domestic students accepted into eligible bachelor degrees at
public universities. The agriculture industry can use the increased flexibility
offered by uncapping of demand to work with schools and universities to
encourage students to study courses that meet the needs of the labour market.
1.25
Agriculture units of study receive the highest rate of Government funding
($20 284 per Commonwealth Supported Place in 2012). The maximum student
contribution in 2012 for agriculture units of study was $8 050 for one
equivalent full-time student load (EFTSL) which is the second highest student
contribution band. Combined funding per EFTSL for universities can be up to $28
334 per annum. Universities have the choice to charge less than the maximum
student contribution and the flexibility to decide how that funding is allocated,
including spending on activities or programs that would support the attraction
of students to study agriculture.
Supporting regional students access
higher education
1.26
The Government is making a major investment in higher education in
regional Australia through a range of initiatives:
- The number of government funded student places in regional
universities has increased from 62,600 in 2007 to an estimated 77,700 in 2012;
- In 2012, Australia’s regionally headquartered universities will
receive about $1.6 billion in Commonwealth funding to support teaching,
learning and research – an increase of 47% from 2007;
- Increasing regional loading to help universities overcome the
higher costs of regional campuses has increased by $110 million over four
years, increasing funding to a total of $249 million; and
- Over five years the Regional Priorities Round of the Education
Investment Fund will deliver more than $500 million to strengthen the
infrastructure that supports regional students' participation in tertiary education.
1.27
The Australian Government has also delivered on its commitment to
eliminate regional eligibility distinctions for Youth Allowance. From 1 January
2012, as part of a $265 million package, inner regional students are able to
access independent Youth Allowance under the same concessional arrangements as
outer regional, remote and very remote.
1.28
The Government has increased to $2000 both second- and third-year
Relocation Scholarships payments for eligible regional university students
required to live away from home. This represents a $9000 increase in Relocation
Scholarship payments for each of those years.
Senator Gavin Marshall
Deputy Chair
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