MIAL welcomes National Skills Agreement

Maritime Industry Australia Ltd (MIAL) welcomes yesterday’s announcement made by the Prime Minister and Minister for Skills and Training of a National Skills Agreement to expand and enable access to VET training opportunities.  

MIAL CEO Angela Gillham says the new agreement has the potential to provide the critical uplift needed to begin shoring up Australian maritime skills and capability to meet industry demand.

The announcement details ‘$2.4 billion in flexible funding to support State and Territory skills sectors with capacity to deliver skills for critical and emerging industries’ with ‘Clean energy and Net Zero transformation of the economy’ highlighted as the Albanese Government’s top-ranked priority for this funding in addition to ‘Australia’s sovereign capability, including advanced manufacturing skills, national security, food security and construction.’

MIAL CEO Angela Gillham says:

“If the Albanese Government is serious about Australia moving towards a net zero economy with sovereign capability, then it is vital that part of the $2.4 billion is dedicated to addressing the critical maritime skills shortage facing the nation.

“There is an urgent need to address this critical skills shortage, which is not only impacting on existing businesses seeking these skills, but also has the potential to put the brakes on offshore resource projects, decommissioning activity and, importantly, the nation’s ability to develop the offshore wind industry that is so important in achieving out net zero goals.  

“MIAL looks forward to working with all levels of Government to best leverage the National Skills Agreement to help rebuild Australian maritime capability and the critical maritime skills base.”