Cassandra Fernando (Holt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges the popularity of the Government's Fee-Free TAFE policy, demonstrated by the almost 150,000 enrolments in the first quarter of 2023;

(2) recognises that fee-free TAFE is:

(a) driving enrolments in sectors with recognised skills shortages and securing a domestic workforce to deliver on current and future priorities;

(b) providing training opportunities to priority groups including First Nations Australians, young people (between the ages of 17 to 24), people out of work or receiving income support, unpaid carers, certain categories of visa holders, women undertaking study in non-traditional fields, people with disabilities and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities;

(c) enabling greater opportunities for Australians to gain skills for rewarding employment and to obtain secure, well-paid jobs;

(d) investing in our greatest resource, our people, and ensuring that no Australians are held back or left behind as the Australian economy transitions; and

(e) providing important cost-of-living relief to Australian students;

(3) commends the Commonwealth and state and territory governments for jointly establishing a $1 billion 12-month National Skills Agreement in 2023, delivering 180,000 places this year; and

(4) welcomes budgeting for a further 300,000 places to be made fee-free from 2024, supporting TAFE's central role in the Vocational Education and Training sector.

Today I rise to present a motion in support of the Albanese Labor government's visionary decision to introduce fee-free TAFE. This transformative policy demonstrates this government's unwavering commitment to accessible education and its dedication to empowering Australians with the skills and opportunities they need to succeed. Upon taking office, the Albanese Labor government inherited not only $1 trillion of coalition debt but also a massive skills deficit. This situation is so dire that according to the OECD Australia is experiencing the second-most severe labour shortage in the developed world.

Education is a bedrock upon which we build a prosperous and equitable society. I mentioned in my first speech the difficulties my family and I had with accessing education. During my years at the William Angliss Institute, I struggled with the steep cost of my course and other study related materials. Education should be accessible to all, regardless of background or socioeconomic status. The introduction of fee-free TAFE by the Albanese Labor government is a significant step towards realising this vision. This landmark policy eliminates the financial barriers that have hindered many individuals from being able to skill themselves to meet this nation's needs. Fee-free TAFE opens doors, expands horizons and empowers individuals to unlock their potential and contribute to our nation's growth and prosperity.

The importance of vocational education and training cannot be overstated. As our society continues to evolve, we must equip our workforce with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing economy. Recent projections show that nine of every 10 new jobs in the next five years will require a post-school qualification. Fee-free TAFE addresses this imperative by bridging the skills gap and aligning vocational education with the demands of the modern workforce. Training through fee-free TAFE is helping drive enrolments in sectors with recognised skill shortages, whether it's the care sector, agriculture, hospitality, tourism, construction, technology or the need to ensure our sovereign capability in defence and manufacturing. Fee-free TAFE delivers these skills during acute skills shortages.

In the first quarter of 2023 alone, the Albanese Labor government has supported almost 150,000 Australians to enrol in fee-free TAFE, including over 26,000 in my state of Victoria alone. Almost 35,000 of the 150,000 enrolments have been jobseekers. More than 12,000 of them are people with disability, 60 per cent of them are women, and nearly 30 per cent of them have been in courses related to the care sector, an area of high priority. This shows that fee-free TAFE is not just a policy that that will deliver dividends in the future; it is one that has already delivered for our country and our community.

Besides addressing our nation's skills deficit, fee-free TAFE also provides much-needed cost-of-living relief, with students saving thousands of dollars in course fees. For example, students undertaking a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care in Victoria are up to $8,700 better off. This is almost $8,700 they can save or spend on their families, homes and futures. The upcoming five-year national skills agreement, commencing in January 2024, builds on the success of fee-free TAFE. The agreement will also provide states and territories with access to additional Commonwealth investment of $3.7 billion over five years from 2024. The government's commitment to invest an additional $400 million to deliver 300,000 more fee-free TAFE places Australia-wide from next year is another testament to this policy's success. Fee-free TAFE is an investment in Australia's greatest resource: our people.

I want to conclude by commending the tireless efforts of the Albanese Labor government, particularly the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, and the Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O'Connor, in bringing about this transformative change. I thank the House.

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