Doctor Karissa Trotter at the Leeton Veterinary Hospital was extremely caring and professional in every aspect of her treatment of our dog.

Keep up the great work.

Ian Pettit 

Leeton 

THE Murray-Riverina NSW Business Chamber, our regional arm of the state’s peak business organisation, believes making minimum literacy and numeracy standards a HSC requirement is a victory for young people and their future employability, following a review conducted by the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards.

The chamber has called for changes to the HSC since our 2010 Could do Better report, and again in 2015 with our Paving the Pathway: Addressing Post Year 10 Education and Training report. Now, the NSW government is taking up some of the reforms we’ve championed which is fantastic to see.

We know the number one requirement for employers looking to hire for entry level positions is that the prospective employees have solid basic skills.

Young people need to know how to read, write and problem solve to a decent standard if they’re to contribute in the workplace.

That is why the NSW government’s decision to introduce minimum literacy and numeracy standards for the HSC is overwhelmingly supported by the business community.

We’re also pleased that there will be ongoing reviews of HSC syllabuses. Course content has to be current so our students emerge with the up-to-date knowledge needed to meet the demands of work or further study. 

It’s been over 20 years since the HSC was last reviewed and there should be no ‘sacred cows’ when it comes to improving outcomes for young people. A comprehensive review of the HSC must consider the needs of all students.

Right now, students are overwhelmingly geared up for university, despite the fact that vocational education and training (VET) pathways lead to excellent career outcomes.

A stronger model for careers advice in school would help students to match their capabilities and interests to the right pathway to work or further education. Strengthening the emphasis on VET, promoting a better model for careers advice and providing flexible learning opportunities will better equip our senior students for their transition to their future workplace.

Ben Foley

Regional manager 

Murray-Riverina NSW Business Chamber 

NSW Farmers Members have unanimously supported the abolition of the proposed backpacker tax as concern grows about labour resources for the upcoming harvest season.

Delegates at the NSW Farmers Annual Conference in Sydney passed policy to clearly reiterate that the proposed 32.5 per cent backpacker tax from January 1, 2017 must be abolished in its current form.

The backpacker tax will deter a significant number of backpackers from coming to Australia. It will create a major labour shortage in industries like horticulture and grain and is expected to see many crops not harvested due to a labour shortage.

Around 38,000 backpackers work in the agricultural sector each year or around 25% of the total labour force in the industry. The longer this uncertainty goes on, the more it is going to exacerbate the current trend of declining numbers of incoming backpackers.

Derek Schoen

President 

NSW Farmers