Friday, 3 September 2004

Industry training demonstrably successful, says Ogilvy

The 19% increase for 2003 in trainees participating in Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) is a great result and evidence of the advantages to be found in industries, United Future education spokesperson Bernie Ogilvy said today.

“For too long the emphasis in tertiary education has been university focussed. This is not the only route, nor is it necessarily the best-paid route.

“The driving force of industries themselves, coupled with financial support from this Government, has woken awareness to the potential of apprenticeships.

“80% of all businesses in this country are small-to-medium enterprises and they are joiners, hairdressers, engineers, plumbers, journalists and real estate agents. All are the products of industry training organisations.

“The beauty of industry training is that it is industry taking care of industry. Some government support is necessary, but industry knows best and is able to determine its own growth.

“I congratulate every one of 126,870 apprentices for their smart career moves. They’ve taken the first steps to business ownership and already are contributing substantial benefits to the economy,” said Mr Ogilvy.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>