The ACTU notes the official appointment of Adam Boyton as the National Skills Commissioner, and hopes that under his leadership this new commission will clear the low bar set by recent efforts at federally coordinated skills training and actually deliver funding and results for workers.
As we shift towards recovery from a once-in-a-century pandemic and economic crisis, skills training is more important than ever. Strong federal funding is needed to provide training as a pathway into new jobs for the huge numbers of workers who have already lost work.
If Mr. Boyton is serious about improving outcomes for skills training in this country he must break the cycle of employer-only advisory groups and give working people and their representatives a seat at the table.
As stated by ACTU Assistant Secretary Scott Connolly:
“This Government has done considerable damage to the skills training sector through cuts and exclusion of the workers the system is supposed to serve. We hope that Mr. Boyton can find a way to start reversing this damage.
“To lift the country out of recession we need to create secure jobs and make sure there are pathways for local workers into those jobs.
“Mr. Boyton needs to demonstrate he is serious about addressing the systemic issues in skills training by bringing all the parties to the table, not just doing what is best for profit-driven providers and employers.”
