CARPENTRY apprentice Ryan Mitchell is proud of his Ford Falcon ute, but less keen on the registration expense that comes with it.
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However, the state opposition has pledged to slash registration costs in half for apprentices if it wins the November 29 state election.
Mr Mitchell met with South West Coast Labor candidate Roy Reekie to discuss the pledge, which would save the teenager more the $300 over the duration of his apprenticeship.
“It’s pretty good news — apprentices don’t earn much so things like this help,” the Warrnambool teenager said.
“I was surprised when I first saw how much (car registration) cost. You have to save, it’s pretty expensive to pay off in one go.”
Mr Reekie said a car or ute was essential for the work of most apprentices and the opposition measure would go some way to alleviating hip-pocket pain.
“Just this week, we’ve had Tony Abbott introduce a sneaky petrol price rise which is just another cost for the average person,” he said.
“This (pledge) is about helping our future tradespeople in their early years when their earning power is low.”
Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews pledged this week that apprentice bricklayers, carpenters, joiners, electricians and plumbers would pay half the cost of registration for their vehicles.
Other apprentices would also be able to apply for the discount, but their employers would have to show that a car was linked to their vocation.
Premier Denis Napthine said other apprentices not included in the scheme, such as chefs and hairdressers, were being discriminated against.
“Daniel Andrews and Labor are beholden to the union movement; it is the union movement that’s writing their policies,” Dr Napthine said.
“I would think that many apprentices would be peeved that they’re missing out on these opportunities.”