Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

When I left school, I went to TAFE. I was an apprentice carpenter. I'm very pleased to say that I had a great career in the building industry as a carpenter and then as a builder. I often tell young people at any schools to get a trade. So many young people now—and I'll confess to doing this because otherwise my kids will hold me to account—have it impressed upon them that they've got to go to university, and I think we have done our kids a disservice in doing that. There's nothing wrong with going to university. We obviously need people to go to university. But not everybody has to go to university. I think we've lost the plot in this country to an extent because we push so many young people to university education. I know that, if you go to TAFE and get a trade in this country, you can basically work anywhere in the world. TAFE training in this country is very well regarded across the world. If you are a carpenter in Australia, you'll get a job in Canada, and, if you are an electrician in Australia, you'll get a job in the United States et cetera. It is very, very highly regarded.

When we were in government, we acknowledged the importance of young people not necessarily going to university but going and doing a trade. How many times have you tried to ring a plumber or an electrician or a plasterer? We've all been there. Trades are in such short supply, and—

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 17 : 04 to 17 : 15

It took the former coalition government nine years to repair the damage that those members opposite inflicted upon the vocational education sector. In those nine years, we delivered JobTrainer, which provided low-fee or no-fee training before the states did. We incentivised apprenticeship commencements and completions, with a record 387,830 apprentices and trainees, building a skilled workforce. We reformed the recognition-of-prior-learning schemes and we backed skilled sectors. We made training more accessible and affordable for young Australians, first responders, veterans and senior career professionals alike. Without fanfare—as was our wont—the coalition delivered on vocational education and training.

On the other hand, take Labor's approach. Labor flung mud, slogans and union-drafted talking points over the parapet right up until the Prime Minister moved into the Lodge. Now their great boast is that they've sold the Australian economy down the river, and for what? For a national skills agreement which is weaker than ever, more expensive and, frankly, without much substance at all. They announced so-called TAFE centres of excellence—they've rebranded them and re-announced them a couple more times, but we still don't know what they'll do, where they'll be or what purpose they'll have. It's all the more curious given TAFEs are state government responsibilities. This federal government is all at sea when it comes to vocational education and training. In 12 months, we've seen that photo-ops, jetsetting and big announcements are all that Labor has to offer. They are now tearing the sector apart once again.

I want to encourage young people to pursue a path with a trade. Go to TAFE, or go and get some private vocational education and training. Become a tradesperson— (Time expired)

See this speech in context