Apprenticeships and traineeships

Payroll Tax Rebate (Trainees, Apprentices and Youth)

Funding of $20.7 million is provided over the budget and forward estimates period for a targeted Payroll Tax Rebate for apprentices, trainees and youth employees. This scheme provides a payroll tax rebate for two years from the date that apprentices and trainees are employed, and one year from the date that youth employees are employed, where they are employed between 1 July 2017 and 30 June 2019. The scheme will remain open to new apprentices and trainees employed in identified skill shortage areas between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2021 (Government services: Budget paper 2: Volume 1, p. 105).

Supporting more Apprenticeships and Traineeships

This commitment provides $7.5 million over three years for a targeted Small Business Grants for Apprentices and Trainees Program for small businesses that do not pay payroll tax to support the employment of 4 500 more trainees and apprentices in areas of high skills demand. This funding would provide a grant of up to $5 000 for each new apprentice or trainee taken on by a small business in an area of identified skills demand, such as building and construction, tourism and hospitality and manufacturing (Government services: Budget paper 2: Volume 1, p. 296).

Employment

Tax Reform Measures

• The rate of payroll tax on payrolls up to $2 million by 35 per cent will be reduced, from 6.1 per cent to 4 per cent, providing a tax saving of up to $15 750 for all businesses that pay this tax (2018-19 budget speech, p. 6).
• Payroll tax concessions for up to three years will be provided for interstate businesses that relocate and employ in regional Tasmania (Government services: Budget paper 2: Volume 1, p.335).

Rural Youth of Tasmania

$70 000 is allocated over four years to develop young people in rural industries through leadership programs to prepare them for future work (Government services: Budget paper 2: Volume 1, p. 249).

Industry

Infrastructure Investment

The Government will invest $2.6 billion in community infrastructure projects that will stimulate economic activity and jobs growth across the State (The budget: Budget paper 1, p. 12).

IT Workforce Development

$75 000 is allocated to continue working with industry partners such as TasICT and the Australian Computer Society to develop a new Workforce Development Plan for the industry, with particular focus on encouraging women and diversity in IT (Government services: Budget paper 2: Volume 1, p. 293).

National Disability Services Funding

$200 000 per annum over three years is provided to assist the National Disability services sector in meeting the required growth in workforce, skills development and strengthening quality and safety (Government services: Budget paper 2: Volume 1, p. 22).

THA Workforce Development

$3 million is allocated over four years to develop the Tasmanian Hospitality Association's Strategic Plan and Workforce Development (Government services: Budget paper 2: Volume 1, p. 297).

National Agreements

Estimated Commonwealth funding to Tasmania for skills and workforce development in 2018-19 includes:

• $31.8 million for the National Skills and Workforce Development Specific Purposes Payment (SPP) (The budget: Budget paper 1, p. 79).

Training providers and programs

TasTAFE funding

Funding of $84.92 million will be provided as a grant to TasTAFE to support training activity and operations. This gives effect to the Government's commitment to ensure a minimum 70 per cent of training funding is provided to TasTAFE (Government services: Budget paper 2: Volume 1, p. 303, note 7).

Centres of Excellence

New TasTAFE Centres of Excellence in agriculture (Burnie), trades and water (Clarence and Hobart), and tourism and hospitality (Drysdale) will be established to ensure young Tasmanians are equipped with the skills for the jobs of tomorrow - a total of $18.7 million is allocated for the development of these TasTAFE centres (Government services: Budget paper no. 2: Volume 2, p. 104).