Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question. As we embark on a significant increase in our defence capability in building infantry fighting vehicles, in constructing ships and frigates and in building submarines, one of the really big challenges is the human challenge. We've got to get the people with the skills to get this done. At the heart of that is vocational and trade training. We have partnered with TAFE SA to increase the number of apprenticeships for fabrication, mechanical and electrical qualifications. We have partnered with South Metro TAFE in Perth for training, which is relevant to the sustainment of submarines, and we are constructing the Skills and Training Academy at the Osborne Naval Shipyard, which is central to providing that on-the-job training which will build the workforce that will build our future frigates and submarines.

But what underpins all of that is the Albanese government's commitment to free TAFE—100,000 places every year from 2027 in addition to the 500,000 places which have already been taken up since our government has come to office. You cannot support tradies without supporting their training, and tradies are at the heart of building our nation's defences, which is why the opposition of the Liberal Party to TAFE is so recklessly dangerous. If you take a line through the questions that have been asked in this place by the alternative skills minister, what is completely clear is that she thinks that TAFE just doesn't work. When you look at the Leader of the Opposition, in his entire parliamentary career, he has barely used the word 'TAFE'. When the TAFE sector look to the Liberal Party, all they see is a barren policy permafrost, which, quite frankly, is a risk to our national security.

Those opposite still have not committed to Labor's increase in defence funding. The poor shadow minister for defence has been left to haplessly wander around the shadow cabinet desperately looking for an affirmation of any of his ideas with all the confidence of a lost dog while the Leader of the Opposition is now presiding over a Liberal Party which has completely surrendered any of its defence credentials. On this side of the House, the Albanese government is investing in the importance of TAFE as a critical enabler of our nation's security and keeping Australians safe.

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