Business SA has made a submission to the Training and Skills Development (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2020. The Bill was created specifically for the establishment of the South Australian Skills Commission (SASC) to combine the existing Training & Skills Commission and the South Australian Training Advocate, which Business SA is pleased to support. The streamlining provisions in the Bill should also improve the apprentice registration process for many employers, while the expansion of the scope of trades and declared vocations in the Bill will assist flexibility in the delivery of employment-based training.
 
A key area of concern for Business SA is ensuring both employees and employers are on an equal footing in terms of any dispute resolution process. Employers, may not be overly familiar with the system and associated risk of incurring penalties, are at a significant disadvantage when faced with an employee represented by the Office of the Training Advocate (OTA) or a replacement decided by the SASC. Business SA has previously asked for this provision of the Act to be reviewed and proposes the Bill be amended to open up the options for representation of employers.

Business SA lobbies on behalf of members to ensure the voice of South Australian business is heard and that we achieve the best environment in which to do business. A significant part of that lobbying effort is through written submissions we make to all levels of government and other organisations such as utility companies, either in response to formal reviews of for example, legislation, or proactively where we wish to progress a particular issue not high enough on the government’s agenda. This might include submissions before the State Budget or where say, the government is reviewing options to reduce red-tape. We also make regular submissions to the Fair Work Commission to advocate the interests of our members with respect to Modern Awards and other industrial matters.

Business SA’s policy team relies heavily on member input into our submissions to ensure that we have the most comprehensive and current perspective from members for any position we take on your behalf. So if you are asked to complete a survey, speak with a policy team member on the phone or participate in a member forum, we appreciate your involvement as it all helps to strengthen the case of business.

Business SA Submission to the Skills and Training Development (Miscellaeous) Amendment Bill 2020