Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Vocational and Further Education) Share this | Hansard source

Young people must be encouraged to follow their strengths. We want a nation where a good technical qualification is as prized as a university degree. The 25 technical colleges are an important initiative in, among other things, restoring the status of technical training in Australia. Not only will 2,000 young people this year directly benefit, and 7,500 by 2009, but these Australian technical colleges will stand as a wonderful symbol in local communities of the importance of a technical career. The government has a plan to address skills shortages and keep the economy strong. Labor’s plan is to hand the technical colleges back to the unions.

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