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

I am a proud product of the TAFE system, as are more than 5½ thousand people living within the electorate of Holt. My journey to this House was shaped by my early years as a shop assistant, where I stacked shelves and navigated the aisles of various Woolies stores across the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Thanks to the TAFE sector I was able to upskill and pursue my passion in culinary arts. I earned a certificate III in commercial cookery from Box Hill TAFE and diplomas in hospitality management and patisserie from William Angliss Institute. This allowed me to pursue my passion of baking and to move into the bakery department at Woolworths. This change in position increased my hourly wage by a few dollars and gave me a sense of security knowing that I was skilled in a trade.

My story is like so many more from the community I so proudly represent. As I look to the future, over 90 per cent of jobs will require tertiary qualification.

For millions of Australians these skills cannot come from universities. Instead, it is only the hands-on experience that TAFE can provide that will give them the training they need to launch their careers. This is why the Albanese Labor government is committed to strengthening our education system and rebuilding Australia's TAFE sector.

We know that the Liberal-National opposition has consistently undermined TAFE, seeking to privatise it at the state level and washing their hands of responsibility at the federal level. When we came to government we inherited a TAFE system on the brink of collapse. It was a system devastated by a decade of neglect under the former government. Unlike the Liberals, we do not see TAFE as a nuisance or as something less than a university degree. We see TAFE and vocational education as essential to the future of our workforce. TAFE is vital for boosting productivity, addressing skill shortages and ensuring every Australian has the opportunity to climb the social and economic ladder.

A recent report by Jobs and Skills Australia highlighted the transformative power of TAFE. On average, TAFE graduates see their annual wages increase by $11,800, and 39 per cent of graduate no longer relied on income support. These are life-changing outcomes that improve not only financial security but also overall quality of life for individuals and their families. As someone who has lived on a minimum wage for more than 15 years, I know how much of a difference this kind of financial stability can make. This is why I am proud to be part of a government that champions free TAFE for Australia.

In just 18 months Labor's free TAFE initiative has led to more than 508,000 enrolments. This program is creating hundreds of thousands of opportunities for people across the nation, including in our local community. Recently, with the Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles, I visited Chisholm TAFE in Cranbourne to meet some of these students and hear their stories. One of them was Zainab, a refugee from Afghanistan who is currently studying English. She told me how she plans to pursue aged-care training after completing her course so that she can give back to the country that has welcomed her. Another student, Dylan, is father to a young child and is studying horticulture. He shared how free TAFE gave him the chance to upskill and secure a better-paid job. Dylan also told me that he couldn't risk being in debt for $30,000 while raising a child and, thanks to Labor's free TAFE, he doesn't have to. Then there's Evie, who left school in year 10 and worked in her family's business for years. Now she's pursuing a TAFE qualification, with the dream of starting her own business.

It is hard to fathom how the Liberal Party can sit across from us and label free TAFE as 'wasteful spending'. Stories like Zainab's, Dylan's and Evie's are proof of why our government is committed to free TAFE. This program is not just about education; it's about transforming lives, breaking down barriers and opening the doors to success for Australians from all walks of life. This is why I'm proud to stand here today and announce that Labor will make free TAFE permanent. From 2027 onwards, Labor will fund more than 100,000 free TAFE places every year. Let me say that again: we are making free TAFE permanent for over 100,000 Australians every single year. Free TAFE is already providing a pipeline of work to crucial industries, with over 130,000 enrolments in the care sector, over 35,000 in the early childhood sector and almost 35,000 enrolments in the construction sector.

This program is addressing workforce shortages in national priority areas. It is training the carers we need to support our aging parents. It is training the educators we need to care for our children while we work. It is training the plumbers and bricklayers we need to build houses and address the housing shortage. It is training the electricians and solar installers we need to power Australia's renewable energy transition.

Victoria, my home state, has been leading the way on free TAFE. Since 2019, a state-run program has been in place and its success is clear. The Victoria Skills Plan estimates that, of the 350,000 new workers needed in our state between 2023 and 2026, nearly half will require a TAFE qualification.

While the Liberals call free TAFE wasteful spending, they have no plans to address our workforce shortage, they want to get rid of free TAFE, they want to block Labor's student debt relief and they want to make it more expensive for every Australian to gain the skills they need for a secure and well-paid job. And once they make it harder to access education, they will overturn workplace rights and push your wages down.

The Liberals claim to care about the cost of living, but they have shown us no solution. This bill ensures federal funding for states and territories to deliver these free-TAFE places. Agreements with the Commonwealth will set clear terms, including the number of places, areas of study, priority groups, reporting requirements and financial arrangements. These agreements will ensure transparency and accountability, while delivering the skills Australians need to thrive.

This builds on the National Skills Agreement, which was signed by the former minister Brendan O'Connor and his state and territory counterparts last year. This agreement represents a $12.6 billion investment into TAFE by the Albanese Labor government. This funding is aimed at addressing crucial and future needs in Australia's workforce, including to support a future made in Australia, the net zero transformation, construction and housing supply, the care and support economy, defence manufacturing and digital capability.

We are investing $325 million in establishing a network of national TAFE centres of excellence to promote best practices in education and training. We are investing $100 million to support the growth and retention of a high quality workforce. We are investing over $250 million to support students to complete their qualification, with a specific emphasis on supporting women and those from marginalised backgrounds.

Labor's free TAFE initiative is not just an investment in education; it's an investment in people, communities and the future of our great nation. Free TAFE is about giving Australians the tools to build lives for themselves and their families. It's about addressing skill shortages, strengthening our economy and ensuring that no one is left behind. I know the impact that TAFE can have on someone's life and I know that, for every Zainab, Dylan and Evie, Labor's commitment to TAFE means opportunity and a better future.

This is what Labor stands for: a government that invests in people, values education and delivers on its promise. I am proud to be part of a government that is making free TAFE permanent—a government that believes in the life changing power of education and skills. Let us continue building a stronger, fairer and more prosperous Australia together.

Thank you to the Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles, and his predecessor, the Hon. Brendan O'Connor, for your hard work and advocacy for free TAFE. I commend this bill to the House.

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