ETC innovations

I refer to Sue Vella's letter (February 15) questioning my statement namely that the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC) has taken on a "government department mentality".

I have no intention of entering into futile polemics. While I do understand that the ETC is a public entity and it has to abide by government policy, it does not change the stark reality that the challenge and the raison d'etre of the corporation are to address the needs of industry and the unemployed.

In my experience as an employment and industrial relations consultant, I happen to come across the outlook adopted and methods employed by the corporation on a regular basis which, to me and others, remain intrinsically bureaucratic and detached. This view is shared by a number of people in business.

I will therefore leave it to these people to pass judgement while I rest my case.