Michelle Ananda-Rajah (Higgins, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

When I recently handed out gold medals, it was not for sport but for skills. WorldSkills Australia was a celebration of excellence in the trades, like cybersecurity, construction and nursing. Skills are the bedrock on which we build our lives. They are the bedrock for a competitive economy, for our net zero transition and for our bold defence and manufacturing programs.

When we think about Australia's wealth, we often turn to the stuff we dig up. In fact, our wealth walks beside us. Diverse practical pathways for young people that take them straight into in-demand careers are the gift of TAFE. However, there were at least 85,000 fewer vocational training places in 2021 compared to 2013 because the Libs failed to invest in our most valuable asset, our people. While human capital is one stock the Albanese government has backed in, our 180,000 fee-free TAFE program has been oversubscribed with take-up by women, First Peoples, peoples with disability and over 50,000 jobseekers. We don't believe in trickle-down economics, but we do believe that skills are the pathway out of disadvantage and into participation, and so do thousands of young and older Australians. Remove the cost barriers, and they will come. Provide the skills, and they will prosper.

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