Matt Williams (Hindmarsh, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is interesting that the member for Kingsford Smith decided to pull out the stats book, because he did not turn the page and reflect on Labor's six years and what happened to completion rates. He is welcome to come back to the chamber and show us some decent statistics that give the full picture, because we all know that completion rates have been a challenge and we are trying to address that.

Let's have a look at what TAFE SA have achieved in South Australia as one example. I want to quote Tony Sutherland, who is the South Australian member of the National TAFE Council Executive, on completion rates. Before I do that, let's remember that TAFE is controlled at a state level, and the member for Wakefield knows this. In South Australia, it is the Labor state government and, in Victoria, it is the Victorian Labor government that is in control of TAFE in that jurisdiction.

What they say about South Australia is that, in reality, it is not a success story. The dismal 37 per cent completion rate in South Australia and the last changes to their policy have seen a downturn in student enrolments that has led to TAFE SA undertaking major business reviews and a likely loss of another 50 FTE teaching staff. These are your colleagues, Member for Kingsford Smith, in South Australia and Victoria. You should not be coming into the chamber and lecturing us. Speak to your own people. Speak to your own ministers in those jurisdictions and get them—

Mr Thistlethwaite interjecting—

Again, that is only half of the story. We do not read half the book, Member for Kingsford Smith. Read the whole book today! In terms of—

Mr Champion interjecting—

I do take your advice, Member for Wakefield, but let's try and talk about TAFE as a system. The member for Cunningham will recognise that TAFE is a valuable asset, because she was on an employment and education committee with me last year that reported on TAFE. Let me quote from that summary report, which said Australia's TAFE system:

… is a unique Australian asset and one which should be protected.

We value TAFE and the important role it has in the community, and that is why we will continue to support TAFE in whatever way we can.

We also said in that report that we should address loopholes which allow unscrupulous business practices in the competitive training market. We have already heard from the assistant minister in this space about addressing the unscrupulous practices of private training providers who have been ripping off students and not delivering outcomes—not making sure that there are sufficient completion rates.

In terms of what the government is doing, I want to jump to the Industry Skills Fund, because this is a valuable initiative that assists companies in upgrading the skills of their employees. Again, the member for Wakefield will be most interested in what is happening in South Australia in particular. Let me go through a few examples: MIMP computer cable enrichment—$20,000; Torque Control Specialists in Edwardstown—$12,000; and Zonge Engineering and Normet, which both received substantial sums. These companies are involved in the mining sector, they are suppliers and they are well positioned to take advantage of the ups and downs there may be in resources, but there is also going to be demand for the resources sector. With the training, which is supported by the government, they will be in a good place to go forward and take advantage of that opportunity in the future.

For future opportunities, we would all—or those who saw the media today—have seen the AFR's report on the results for education in terms of exports. Again the figures were impressive: a 13 per cent increase, making education a $20 billion export industry. We all know it has been improving and is our third-largest export provider. TAFE and the vocational education system are important parts of that. I know there are some great things being done by TAFE around Australia, whether it be at Box Hill or in Asia and at other TAFEs, and I think this is where the future lies for opportunities to sell our services to Asia in the best way possible.

On the role of industry, we know that in South Australia companies like Redarc or ASC have been very engaged with TAFE in getting some great results, so TAFE are on the right track. The government is supporting TAFE where they need to. We just wish our Labor colleagues in some jurisdictions could be more diligent and effective in what they do with running programs that produce better outcomes than what they are doing. But that is up to our local members, like the member for Wakefield, to take control of and get some outcomes for once in his life.

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