Explanatory Memorandum
(Circulated by authority of the Minister for Vocational and Further Education the Honourable Andrew Robb AO MP)OUTLINE
This Bill gives effect to a Government budget commitment to provide $2,000 over 2 years to Australian Apprentices, under thirty, undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship in a trade occupation identified as experiencing national skills shortages.
The Apprenticeship Wage Top-Up for Australian Apprentices acknowledges that the first and second years of an apprenticeship can be particularly difficult, when wages are at their lowest. It also acknowledges how important these people are to our continued economic competitiveness, performance and growth.
Under the Apprenticeship Wage Top-Up payment Australian Apprentices under thirty who are undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship in a trade occupation identified as experiencing skills shortages and listed on the Migration Occupations in Demand List will be eligible to receive a $500 payment at the 6, 12, 18 and 24 month points of their training. Full-time apprentices will receive $1000 per year, $2000 in total, while part-time and Australian School-based Apprentices will receive $500 annually over a longer time frame totalling $2000.
The Bill also exempts the value of the Commonwealth Apprenticeship Wage Top-Up payment from assessment as income under the Social Security Act 1991, Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 and the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 .