Labor promises Western Power apprenticeships

If the Labor Party is elected next month Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said his party would provide 50 new apprenticeships at Western Power.

Mr McGowan said Government apprenticeships had “declined significantly”.

He announced his plan at the Apprentice and Traineeship Company in Davenport today, promising at least 50 young West Australians an apprenticeship at Western Power for electrical, line worker and mechanical trades.

He also promised not to privatise Western Power.

“It is too important for the future of Western Australia,” he said.

“The Liberal and National Parties will sell off Western Power that will have a dramatic impact, a detrimental impact on regional Western Australia.

“It is bad for our State – the region’s service standards will go down, jobs will be lost and important infrastructure priorities will be missed.

“One of the benefits of keeping Western Power is you can guarantee apprentices.”

Deputy Premier Liza Harvey said a re-elected Liberal Government would create a $75 million employer incentive scheme to help generate 15,000 new apprenticeships and traineeships for Western Australian job seekers over two years.

“The State Government implemented the Government Building Training Policy which ensured major Government building, construction and maintenance contracts are only awarded to companies which have at least 11.5 per cent of its workforce made up of apprentices and trainees,” she said.