7th Aug 2023, 12:55 PM – Senate Jobs and Skills Australia Amendment Bill 2023 - in Committee - Volunteer sector

The majority voted against an amendment introduced by WA Senator Michaelia Cash (Liberal), which means it failed.

What does this amendment do?

Senator Cash explained that:

we're seeking to amend the bill to improve Jobs and Skills Australia through specifically establishing a role for Jobs and Skills Australia understanding and in respect of the volunteer sector.

It actually emerged during a round table convened by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition last Friday with the peak skills organisations and the volunteer sector that currently the government does not adequately take into account the volunteering sector in its actual deliberations when it's looking at the jobs and skills that we do require going forward. This is a missed opportunity, because even though the work is predominantly unpaid across the volunteer sector, the sector still remains a large part of our workforce.

Amendment text

(1) Schedule 1, item 12, page 4 (after line 25), after subparagraph 9(1)(a)(viii), insert:

(ix) the size, composition and skills requirements of the volunteer sector;