Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to thank the shadow minister for this question because it enables me to get a few facts out about those opposite and about what we're doing. Labor cut over $1.2 billion from employer incentives in just two years. The number of apprenticeships and trainee commencements fell by 85,000 in a single year. That is the greatest fall in history. Do you want me to just go through it again? Labor cut $1.2 billion from employer incentives in just two years—

Mr Albanese interjecting—

No, Leader of the Opposition, just so you've got the facts when you ask the next question: the number of apprenticeships and traineeship commencements fell by 85,000 in a single year in 2013—the greatest fall in history. What are we doing? We are fixing your mess. It has taken six years to repair the damage that you created—80,000 new apprentices. Remember what you did with VET FEE-HELP? What an absolute disaster VET FEE-HELP was! We have fixed that mess. We are going to make sure that vocational education is regarded with the same esteem as all other types of education. The Prime Minister is absolutely committed to making sure this happens. We are going to make sure that parents have pride if their children take the path of a vocational education. We will not defund it. We will make sure that parents—

Opposition members interjecting—

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