Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today is National TAFE Day. It is a day to reflect on how this government has failed TAFEs and TAFE students across the country. Since forming government in 2013, this government, the Liberal-Nationals, have cut $3 billion from TAFE apprenticeships and vocational education in our country, including $270 million in this budget alone. What is the result of these massive cuts to TAFE? We have seen 140,000 apprenticeships in this country lost. We have seen TAFE campuses close. We have seen courses lost. The member for Lalor mentioned bricklaying. That is one of the courses that was cut at Bendigo TAFE when this government cut funding to Bendigo TAFE. What do we have today? Because of cuts to courses like bricklaying, we now have a skills shortage in this country—because of this government's reckless attitude towards TAFE.

Let's look at some of the issues we have. In National Party areas, where youth unemployment can be as high as 20 per cent, we have seen TAFE campuses close and we are seeing courses lost. It is a disgrace. Today, on TAFE Day, we acknowledge the hardworking TAFE teachers, we acknowledge the state Labor governments who are trying to reverse the damage that has been done and we call upon this government to stop attacking TAFE and, instead, to reinvest.