Steve Georganas (Adelaide, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'd like to congratulate the member for Hunter for this motion because a better educated workforce drives innovation, productivity and long-term economic growth. This is what TAFE does exactly. It assists people to skill up; to learn different trades; to, perhaps at a particular time in their life, go and upskill; and to ensure that they can contribute to long-term economic growth in our nation.

When you look at the history of TAFE, it has helped and served thousands of people in Australia. My own family is no exception. My son is a plumber. He went through TAFE and did his plumbing certificates et cetera. It has served him very well. I'm a product of TAFE; I didn't go to university. I finished year 12 and went back to TAFE later on in life to upskill and get certain certificates, and here I am today.

Our TAFE and our higher education play an important role. As I said, a better educated workforce drives innovation, productivity and long-term economic growth. This is particularly important to my electorate of Adelaide and to my home state of South Australia because we know that South Australia has a commitment to build naval nuclear powered submarines. We know they will be built in South Australia, so we need skills and trades. We need to prepare for it and to be ready with those skills and trades so that the workforce that's needed will be there. We know that South Australia will create up to 4,000 jobs—

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 13:09 to 13:21

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