THIN-SKINNED ANDREW GILES RESORTS TO LIES

The Coalition is calling on Minister Andrew Giles to correct the record after falsely claiming the Coalition would scrap the Key Apprenticeship Program.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said the Albanese Government’s claim on 2 March 2026 that the Coalition has committed to scrapping the Key Apprenticeship Program was a lie.

“The Coalition continues to back hardworking apprentices and the small businesses that are the engine-room of Australia’s housing construction sector,” Senator Nampijinpa Price said.

The Key Apprenticeship Program provides up to $10,000 to apprentices to start and complete their training and was expanded in July 2025 to include housing construction apprentices.

As Channel 7 reported last weekend, around 2,500 of 17,000 New Energy Apprentices (15 per cent) have not been retained beyond the first year.

“Andrew Giles readily cites the number of people who have commenced apprenticeships, but he refuses to cite the number who have completed their training.”

“I am calling on Minister Giles to release the data on all components of the Key Apprenticeship Program on how many apprentices have commenced and how many have completed their training.”

“It is entirely appropriate to scrutinise government spending under this $627 million program, especially when early figures show concerning drop-out rates.”

“The Albanese Government promised to build 1.2 million homes by mid-2029 but is already around 80,000 homes behind its target.”

Minister Giles should correct the record and release the apprenticeship completion data.

Wednesday, 4 March 2026