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Call
for adequate apprentices allowances Member for Flinders Liz Penfold has again raised the inadequacy of allowances for trainees and apprentices from rural areas. “The current allowance of $12 a day for travel and accommodation is a pittance. “The allowance does not even cover the cost of a meal let alone accommodation,” she said. Mrs Penfold said the $12 allowance was not even paid for Saturdays and Sundays meaning country apprentices and trainees who had to stay in Adelaide for more than one week of training were further disadvantaged. “South Australia’s skills shortage in trades is well documented and we should be doing everything possible to encourage our young people to develop skills to overcome this shortfall. “Once again, metropolitan trainees and apprentices have the opportunity to live at home but this is impossible for young people in rural areas. “Rural people should not be further disadvantaged to the point where families are put under significant financial pressure, occasionally leading to an apprentice or trainee giving up the opportunity to learn a trade,” she said. Mrs Penfold has again written to the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education Paul Caica asking that accommodation and travel allowances for apprentices and trainees be lifted. In response to a similar request earlier in the year, the Minister replied that “the amount paid by the State Government is only intended to be a contribution towards the cost of travel and accommodation”. However Mrs Penfold said $12 a day for a maximum of five days a week was not much of a contribution at today’s costs. The allowance has not been increased for at least six years. “If the government is serious about increasing the number of trainees and apprentices from regional South Australia then the allowance must be raised,” she said. |
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