Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

This morning we're discussing the motion put forward by the fabulous member for Holt about fee-free TAFE. I should go on the record and point out that I'm not a member of the Liberal Party or the National Party, or even the crossbench—I'm a member of the Labor Party—but I'm speaking on behalf of that side because they couldn't find three people to actually say something positive about a government policy that delivers cost-of-living relief, free TAFE—the clue's in the title—and training opportunities for everyday Australians, something that the member for Holt and our whip recognise.

I can never get my head around why the Liberals and the Nationals don't understand how good TAFE is. Are they wary because they think TAFE takes money away from private training providers, perhaps? I don't know. But at the federal level, for over a decade, I saw the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison government leave the training sector in a hole, which has now delivered a massive skill shortage for our nation. In Queensland I saw the Newman government try and choke the life out of TAFE Queensland by sacking TAFE teachers and staff and by ripping funding out of TAFEs.

Thankfully, Labor governments believe in the vital role that TAFEs play in skilling Australians. We invest in not only the institution but the people. The Albanese Labor government is following that great Labor tradition, and we are investing in our greatest resource—our people. We believe in Australians and believe they can be more, and education is that great transformational policy. We're honouring our key election commitment to provide fee-free TAFE and vocational education places—places that will provide training opportunities to priority groups, increase workforce participation and address those skills gaps in the economy. Training through fee-free TAFE will help drive enrolments in sectors that have those recognised skills shortages, whether it's in the care sector, agriculture—something the Nationals might perhaps be interested in—hospitality, tourism, construction, technology or the need to ensure our sovereign capability when it comes to defence and manufacturing. We need to deliver these skills at a time of acute skills shortages.

This supports our plans for making things in Australia; how good is that? I love it because my electorate has a strong manufacturing sector. My local TAFE SkillsTech at Acacia Ridge has a long history of providing highly-trained employees for the local workforce in Salisbury and Rocklea, where most of the manufacturing in Moreton is located. SkillsTech has some of the newest facilities, with the recent completion of a $200 million capital works program, including a 3D welding simulator for welding qualifications, which are in high demand in defence and manufacturing industries—not a job I would be able to do, based on my experience with 3D welding! There was also high demand when the Minister for Skills and Training came to visit recently.

Last year the Commonwealth, state and territory governments signed a $1 billion 12-month national skills agreement delivering those 180,000 fee-free TAFE and VET places. The agreement will increase opportunities and workforce participation in priority groups, including First Nations Australians, young people, people out of work or those receiving income support, unpaid carers, women undertaking study in non-traditional fields, people with disability, and certain categories of visa holders. The most popular courses have been in skills priority areas like early childhood education, nursing, support work, cybersecurity and construction. This just highlights the great success that fee-free TAFE is already having by encouraging Australians into sectors that are in desperate need of more skilled workers. Fee-free TAFE has also seen a strong uptake by women, who represent 60 per cent of all enrolments, while more than 25,000 students currently enrolled in fee-free TAFE are from households that speak a language other than English at home. Often it is the first door opening to a new career.

This isn't where it ends; this is simply where it begins. I know Minister O'Connor is keen to build on the success of fee-free TAFE by continuing to work with state and territory ministers to achieve better outcomes for students in the bush but also in the city. They're all committed to delivering access and equity to their vocational education and training system as part of the coming five-year National Skills Agreement, which will commence in January next year. The National Skills Agreement will provide states and territories with access to additional Commonwealth investment of $3.7 billion over five years from 2024. In addition, the Albanese Labor government will invest an additional $400 million to deliver a further 300,000 fee-free TAFE places Australia-wide from next year. This $4.1 billion investment shows the commitment of the Albanese Labor government to work in partnerships with states and territories. The Albanese Labor government will continue to help to give more Australians in the city and the country the skills and training they need to harness the jobs and opportunities of the future.

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