Page 888 - Week 03 - Thursday, 14 April 1994
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MADAM SPEAKER, IT HAS BEEN RECOGNISED BY THE GOVERNMENT THAT A MORE APPROPRIATE WAY TO PROVIDE FOR CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING IS TO INTRODUCE THROUGH LEGISLATION A LEVY SCHEME BASED ON THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION WORK IN THE ACT. THIS SCHEME WILL POOL FUNDS COY BEING SPENT BY INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYERS. MONEY COLLECTED WOULD SUPPLEMENT THAT PROVIDED. BY GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS. THE WHOLE POOL OF RESOURCES WILL FUND PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR WORKERS IN THE ACT CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
OVERALL, FUNDS SPENT ON INDUSTRY TRAINING FOLLOWING IMPOSITION OF THE LEVY CAN BE FOCUSED IN AREAS WHERE THERE IS AN AGREED NEED. FOR THIS REASON THE PROPOSED LEVY HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE TRIPARTITE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING COUNCIL.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE BILL PROVIDES FOR THE IMPOSITION OF A LEVY ON ALL BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION WORK VALUED OVER $5000 COMMENCING IN THE ACT AFTER THE LEGISLATION IS ENACTED. THE ASSESSED AMOUNT WILL BE PAYABLE BY THE PROJECT OWNER WHO IS THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING OUT A BUILDING PERMIT OR ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT WITH A GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY. THE BILL PROVIDES FOR THE LEVY TO BE WITHIN A RANGE OF 0.2% TO 0.5% OF THE VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK. THE LEVEL OF LEVY WILL BE SET BY THE APPROPRIATE MINISTER AFTER CONSULTATION WITH A BOARD WHICH IS TO BE ESTABLISHED UNDER TIE BILL.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE LEVY WILL BE SET INITIALLY AT 0.2010. THIS SHOULD GENERATE OVER $1 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR INDUSTRY TRAINING. I SHOULD ADD, MADAM SPEAKER, THAT THE LEVY PROPOSED IS NOT AN ADDITIONAL LEVY TO THE ONE REQUIRED UNDER COMMONWEALTH TRAINING GUARANTEE ARRANGEMENTS. COMMONWEALTH LEGISLATION ALLOWS FOR AN EXEMPTION FROM THOSE ARRANGEMENTS FOR AN INDUSTRY WHERE A SATISFACTORY ALTERNATIVE IS PROVIDED UNDER STATE OR TERRITORY LEGISLATION.
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