Australia Unveils Plans to Tackle Skills Shortages

The Australian Government says it will fund training places and create a new advisory body to tackle skills shortages.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the Federal Government will fund 20,000 skilled training places by April.

Australia is suffering from an acute skills shortage in the mining sector as well as in construction and health.

The government says it will establish 450,000 training places within the next four years, 60 percent of which will target current workers.

The government will also establish Skills Australia, a body of seven experts from economics, industry, academia and education to advise on skills and training.

Rudd says the former government failed to train enough skilled workers.

"Instead of seizing the opportunity presented by the mining boom to invest in the skills and capacity of our existing workforce, the Howard Government has instead focused on cutting Australian worker’s wages and conditions through its unfair WorkChoices laws."

By Louis Makiello