Australia needs every worker it can get if it intends to take advantage of its current mining boom, but Melvin Mansell of The Advertiser argues that a proposal to fast-track apprentice training could lead to cut corners and underskilled workers.
If industry has a strong, influential role in the process, a new system which delivers well-skilled employees in shorter time-frames might be achievable. It is imperative though, that quality, and most importantly safety, is not compromised.