Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union
Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (13:53): (587) My question is for the Minister for Skills and TAFE. The Victorian division of the CFMEU is authorised to deliver training as part of the Skills First training program. As stated on the CFMEU website:
Skills First is a Victorian Government program that helps people access vocational education and training.
How much in funding does the Labor government provide the CFMEU every year as part of this training program?
Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Regional Development) (13:54): I thank the member for his question. He would know from previous questions that have been asked in this chamber on other occasions that the Skills First contract process is a department-run process. It is a department-run process that requires prerequisites to be met. But not only that, when an RTO is provided with a Skills First contract, the department has the ability to do spot checks, and indeed there is a blitz unit that makes sure that contracts are abided by. The fact of the matter is that there are 241 private RTOs – for-profit and not-for-profit organisations – that have got Skills First contracts, and as I said, this is a process that is run and monitored and controlled by the department. In terms of contracts that the CFMEU holds, they have had contracts for a number of years. In terms of the finer detail, I am not in possession of that detail at this point and time.
Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (13:55): Minister, given the Premier has suspended the Victorian branch of the CFMEU from the Victorian Labor Party and given the rampant criminality, corruption and toxic culture of the CFMEU, will you show leadership and suspend this rogue union from the Skills First training program?
Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Regional Development) (13:56): I answered this question in response to the substantive question. To try and connect what is being played out in the media in relation to the delivery of skills I think is just a ploy from those opposite, and I –
Members interjecting.
Evan Mulholland: On a point of order, President, it was a direct question that was not asked in the preliminary question about whether the minister will suspend the CFMEU from this training program.
The PRESIDENT: I think the minister was actually answering the question.