Macindoe Tim: Industry Training and Apprenticeships Amendment Bill — First ReadingText is subject to correctionMacindoe Tim: Industry Training and Apprenticeships Amendment Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 05 November 2013. Volume:694;Page:14377. Text is subject to correction.]TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West): My constituents in Hamilton West often say to me that they are very supportive of apprenticeships. They want to see good quality apprenticeships and training that will lead particularly for our young people but in fact for all people—Sue Moroney: And they are disappointed. They are really disappointed.TIM MACINDOE: —into really sustainable jobs. They are disappointed Ms Moroney because over the previous 10 years when your party was in Government they saw a threefold increase in expenditure on industry training organisations for absolutely no result whatsoever. Not only are my constituents supportive of apprenticeships but also they believe in accountability for the expenditure of public money. They know unlike the Opposition that the Government does not have the money. It is their money which came out of their pockets. They want to see the young people and all those who aspire to a job getting good training and delivering results for that training.It is worth reminding the Opposition that during those 10 years at the start of this century qualification completions and credit attainment by trainees were pitifully low. In fact as the Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment pointed out up to 100000 people a year who were listed as being in industry training were in fact phantom trainees many of whom achieved no credits whatsoever. That was a disgrace. [Interruption] Instead of shouting at me Opposition members should hang their heads in shame at that.We as a Government are determined to ensure that the changes will increase opportunities for in-work training and that they will expand and improve our apprenticeship system. That is why this year the Budget increased—Dr David Clark: Where are the jobs? Where are the jobs?TIM MACINDOE: —the number of trade training placements for Māori and Pasifika applicants from approximately 600 previously to approximately 3000 today—over the next 4 years. What a great thing that is. Dr Clark sits here in this House day after day calling out “Where are the jobs?” even when that question is repeatedly answered and he is told to have a look at the SEEK and TradeMe websites. There are jobs out there but what we are doing with this measure is ensuring that there will be a better fit between the training and the jobs that are there. He will remain on the Opposition benches for a very long time until he takes his head out of the sand and recognises that reality. His party did nothing of any value for those people. We are getting on with the job and it will work.New Zealand Apprenticeships will provide the same level of support and the same level of subsidy for all apprentices regardless of their age. That is important becausethey are not all young. They are not all just out of school. We have also boosted the educational content of apprenticeships by requiring all apprenticeship programmes to be at least 120 credits and to result in a level 4 qualification. Why is that important? Well it is important for the reason that Phil Goff told us during the last election. Labour members who campaigned at the last election and it is all of them over there ought to remember that when their then leader Phil Goff was going around the country he was regularly quoting Brent Mettrick of Stonewood Homes who repeatedly said that this measure the bill we have got here the Industry Training and Apprenticeships Amendment Bill is exactly what is needed. He called for this and Phil Goff said: “We will deliver.” So that is why I was astonished when Grant Robertson earlier said something completely different. It was as if he had no recollection of what his own party was campaigning on. Phil Goff supported and emphasised Mr Mettrick’s plea for the system to increase funding for apprenticeships which would allow industry training organisations to invest in the quality of education for apprentices lower fees for employers and encourage growth in the uptake of apprenticeships. That is exactly what this bill will do. I am proud to lend my support to it. I know that it is going to be very good for those young people and for the country.