A.C.T. APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE – 1974

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

No. 33 of 1974

		It is proposed to amend the A.C.T. Apprenticeship Ordinance 1936-1959.  The existing Ordinance has not been amended since 1959.  It needs amendment to bring it into line with current practices in the training of apprentices in the Australian Capital Territory.

		The most significant amendments enable the following provisions to be made:
Section 3

(a)		EMPLOYEES OF THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT  PRINTER WILL COME UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE.  They are at present excluded.

Section 9

(b)		THE CHAIRMAN OR DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE APPRENTICESHIP BOARD WILL BE CHAIRMAN OF EVERY TRADE COMMITTEE.

		It has been accepted practice in apprenticeship authorities in the States for trade committees to be formed to oversight the interests of specific trades or groups of trades.  Although provision was made in Part 3 of the Principal Ordinance for trade committees, none have been established because of the relatively low number of apprentices in the Territory.

	Recently, however, there have been moves by certain trades to press for the establishment of such committees.  E.g., - automotive and printing trades.

	The powers and functions of trade committees are proposed to include:

	determination of applications for apprenticeship, 

	consideration of applications by employers to train apprentices,

	prescription of relevant trade courses,

	determination of the proportion of apprentices to tradesmen in the 	industry, and

	determination of pay and conditions of service where there is no award.

Section 9 to 11

(c)		THE APPRENTICESHIP BOARD WILL BE ABLE TO DELEGATE CERTAIN POWERS TO TRADE COMMITTEES.

	As a consequence of the setting up of trade committees there will be a need to provide an avenue of appeal against decisions of the committees.  The Board will have power to hear such appeals.
Section 17

(d)		APPRENTICES MAY BE DIRECTED TO ATTEND COURSES IN LARGER CENTRES WHEN THE REQUIRED COURSES ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE CANBERRA TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

	Similar schemes already operate in the States whereby country apprentices are assisted to attend short intensive full-time courses not available within reasonable distance of their place of residence.  It is proposed to reimburse the cost of travelling and to pay living away from home allowance at the rate prescribed in the Regulations ($15 per week).
Section 20

(e)		CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH APPRENTICES MAY BE SUSPENDED ARE INCLUDED IN THE ORDINANCE.

	No provision is made in the existing Ordinance for suspension of an apprentice where his or her services have been unsatisfactory to the employer or for any other reason e.g., incapacity, illness, misconduct.

Section 24 and Schedule

(f)		THE PRESCRIBED PENALTIES HAVE BEEN REVISED.

	The penalties provided in the existing Ordinance have not been revised since 1936 and they no longer constitute a real penalty.  New amounts described in the Schedule have been determined on the basis of the Apprenticeship Board’s recommendations.
Schedule

(g)		CERTAIN TERMS E.G. “MASTER” AND “JOURNEYMEN” HAVE BEEN DELETED.

	They have been replaced by “Employer” and “Tradesmen”.

Authority – the Minister of State for Education Vide Section 12 of the Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1910-1973.