01-November-2007
Goldstein Media Releases, Workplace Relations
Over 2,200 Bayside small business owners and their staff will benefit from the Coalition’s plan to provide vouchers of up to $1,500 to assist with training and upgrading skills, Andrew Robb, Federal Member for Goldstein said today.
“Just as small business is the engine room of the Australian national economy, so too do local businesses in Bayside create investment and employment opportunities in our local community.
“Small business owners and their staff need support to ensure that they have the skills and qualifications necessary to grow their business and to continue contributing to our local and national economy.
“The Coalition understands that it is not always easy for small business owners to afford the costs of training for themselves or their staff,” Robb said.
That is why a re-elected Coalition Government will invest $168 million over five years in at least 100,000 new Small Business Training Vouchers. The vouchers will provide up to $1,500 for skills and training for small businesses with fewer than 20 employees, based on matched contributions from employers. Small Business Training Vouchers will be redeemable at accredited public and private training organisations.
These vouchers will help Bayside small business owners to purchase the flexible training for themselves and their staff that meets their individual business needs. It will enable businesses to get the training done at their business, at times that suit them.
This is part of the Coalition’s bold plan to reduce Australia’s unemployment rate to three per cent over the next three years.
Since 1996, the unemployment rate in Goldstein has been more than halved from 6.2% to 2.9% today.
The announcement of Small Business Training Vouchers is a significant part of the Coalition’s decisive plan to keep Australia strong and prosperous into the future by helping more people into work and into the job they want.
It builds on the Coalition’s plan for comprehensive tax reform, establishing a further 100 Australian Technical Colleges and the $3,000 Work Skills Vouchers.
“A re-elected Coalition Government will continue its strong and disciplined management of Australia’s $1.1 trillion economy so that Bayside small businesses can continue to grow, share in and contribute to the nation’s prosperity,” Robb said.