I struggle with spelling and am lost with out my spell check.....but like most dyslexics I am good with numbers....

If it was just 380 bucks for ALL the up-skilling, lost days, the license, legal representation, record keeping, paying to watch some salesman push his product, or for the money for the course, buying all my points....TO BUY THE RIGHT TO DO A JOB I AM ALREADY QUALIFIED TO DO.

Add it all up spud, it ain't just the license......all over seen by a bunch of corrupts....it is utter bullshit.

I am very proud of the Feds, makes me think we are not all sheep.

Anyone seen the latest way to build houses cheaper.......the trades should pass on the savings and share the perks, as per Nick Smith on the news. No more mark up?

Apparently we get a new Ute every three years from our suppliers!!!

A while back I was at a meeting when a guy asked why does it cost so much to run a register?...... a valid question.

The reply was smug and condescending....... have you seen what lawyers charge?

When this was made by a part of the Board's legal team I found it totally insulting, especially after she relayed a story about being the plumbing mafia.

Nice people.

So what's your charge out rate, or is your time free after hours......and yes when the reps are pushing their product, the cpd courses are impossible to fail which makes them a bit of waste of your time, time which you can't charge for....time I could spend with my family.

Aboutgas, exactly mate, otherwise its just hoops to jump through for your license and a bit of a farce...I like to learn new stuff.

Don't forget.... we were once totally qualified, but now I got to listen to a guy (usually just a salesman and not qualified) pushing his product for an evening.....to get my "points".

Nothing is "free".   What you mean Spud is you don't pay for them on the night, but the cost is borne by subsequently passed on.  If the supplier is paying, and often providing supper to boot, then you are paying when you buy the product.  "Free to you" is not "free" full stop.  You pay somewhere along the line mate.  We all do.

How long have you been in the industry SPUD? 

The people you have called a bunch of sour depressing bastards have a huge amount of experience and the way you are talking have probably forgotten more than you will ever know.

I was once told SPUD stood for Stupid Persistent Useless Dork. Have a bit of respect for others and don't live up to your name.

Spud, are you being deliberately obtuse? It is the poor quality of training for CPD, apprentices, pretrade courses that is objected to.  Having to listen to a sales rep discuss plug and wastes IS NOT upskilling and never will be.  You seem to have completely missed the point AGAIN. No-one is objecting to upskilling per se, however just about everyone objects to the poor quality "courses" available  at your local merchant and online.

Hi Spud. You are right with some of what you say with regard to poor training.  I believe the entire training system has collapsed hence the reason so much emphasis has been put on CPD because people just aren't getting the right training. The training should be what is relevant, necessary and cost effective and CPD doesn't fall into any of those categories but yet we are wasting time doing it. It is money and resources that could be better directed.

Did you attend the Qualifications meeting this week run by Skills? It was a very sad endorsement of where our training in the industry is going.

The guys in the Federation are fighting on a lot of fronts for the industry not just about CPD, there are issues like the unlawful taking of industry money, people getting given their certifying qualifications when they haven't even done an apprenticeship, conflicts of interest, poor investigative processes, people clipping the ticket at our expense and the list goes on. I agree with Wal and the others that nothing will change unless the Board are held accountable and we can't lift the standing of the industry unless all the poxy sores are bought out into the sunlight to heal. There is a lot that happens that the industry just doen't know about.

I think everyone would agree good relevant training that produces good tradespeople is what is needed so we can lift the trades reputation back to where it should be.   

Well done for doing 20 years. Not many people last that long.