Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Skills and Training) Share this | Hansard source

We saw the previous government's last budget cut support for apprentices. We've actually turned that around and are now investing more money to support apprentices and employers in manufacturing, in the housing and construction sector, in energy, and in other sectors of the economy. To ensure that we're delivering the best possible skills, we are creating centres of excellence, bringing universities and TAFEs together and working with industry. We recently announced one in Western Australia, another in Canberra and there are many more to come.

We are investing in up-to-date equipment at our TAFE campuses and ensuring we increase the number of teachers and trainers we need to provide the skills pipeline for the energy sector and manufacturing sector. While those opposite say that fee-free TAFE is wasteful spending, while they still have no plan to supply skills to our economy, we'll get on with the job of supplying skills to make sure we have a Future Made in Australia.

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