Martin Ferguson (Batman, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Transport, Roads and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

While the opposition will support this bill—despite the ramblings of the former minister, the member for Moreton—there are many more important measures that need to be taken to improve Australia’s trade training outcomes. One of the most important initiatives was the Prime Minister’s sacking of the member for Moreton as the minister responsible for this portfolio. We need to see sustainable trades for the future of the national economy. But let us be clear: the former minister, by his ramblings in the House this evening, has proven he was inadequate to the task. He failed to put a system in place to produce the goods, and Australian technical colleges and employers are thankful that he was sacked.

See this speech in context