Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald, said there would be an unprecedented level of support for apprentices in this week’s State Budget.

The new $285 million skills and training package means that from next month, free apprenticeships will be offered to newly enrolled apprentices in any course.

“Today’s announcement is all about building up the workforce that will help us capitalise on our record infrastructure program, and in turn deliver a generation of skilled workers,” Mr MacDonald said.

“As a government, we have already created the positions for apprentices, by ensuring 20 per cent of trade roles on all future government projects will be filled by apprentices, and now we are covering the cost of their training.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Skills, John Barilaro, said NSW needed more apprentices to ensure a strong pipeline of skilled workers for NSW.

“We know that without skilled workers, our economy will stall,” Mr Barilaro said.

“The single biggest threat to our $80.1 billion infrastructure spending program is not having the workforce to deliver it. You can have the money to spend, but if you don’t have the skilled workers to actually bring the projects to life, it all counts for nothing.”

Mr Barilaro said students would save about $2,000 per course.

“Whether you want to be a carpenter, pastry cook or hairdresser, if it's an apprenticeship in NSW you'll be eligible for fee free,” he said.

The 100,000 free apprenticeships would be on offer over the next four years.

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