Andrew Giles (Scullin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Skills and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks for your guidance, Speaker, and I thank the member for Bean for his question. As he knows, Labor is bringing costs down so that more Australians can access high-quality, affordable training. Free TAFE is delivering the training that Australians want and the skills they need to get ahead. This morning, I was so pleased to be part of a ceremony that welcomed our Skillaroos: VET students from around Australia who competed, and competed so well, on the global scale at the WorldSkills event in France. These Skillaroos were also joined by free TAFE students from the Canberra Institute of Technology—students in nursing, early childhood and individual support as well as mechanical apprentices. And I welcomed MPs and senators from across the aisle, including the member for Farrer, the shadow minister, to celebrate our world-class TAFE and VET students.

The contribution of these students to building Australia's future simply cannot be overstated, and it was so good to speak with them to celebrate their achievements and to discuss how it's inspiring others. On this point, I spoke with Lachlan from Western Australia, who told me about the importance of fee-free TAFE to him. Labor is listening to students like Lachlan, and Labor is bringing people together, working with all states and territories—Liberal as well as Labor—in putting TAFE at the heart of our skills and training system. Last year, we brought in fee-free TAFE, and half a million Australians have enrolled. We're supporting these Australians by bringing their costs down, and we're opening the doors of opportunity.

I was asked if there's any opposition to this, and, shortly after this morning's event, members will be shocked but not surprised to hear that the shadow minister snuck away. She turned her back on these TAFE students, announcing that the coalition will oppose our Free TAFE Bill.

Government members: Shame!

It is a shame. But for years, on this side of the House, we have fought against the Liberals' resentment towards public education and against their efforts to undermine TAFEs—and we always will. There will be no free TAFE places under the Liberals, who still call this wasteful spending. They will cut this cost-of-living support. They refused to allocate a dollar towards the hardworking Australians getting the skills they need for the jobs we need.

Last time they were in government, we saw the damage their disregard for the VET system and skilling Australians did. They left Australia with the worst skill shortage in 50 years and now, worse than that, they are standing in the way of us fixing it, while slamming the door shut on hundreds and thousands of Australians looking to get the skills they want and whilst we are assisting them with cost-of-living pressures. They are showing arrogance towards the students and recklessness towards the needs of our economy. But as long as there is a Labor government, free TAFE is here to stay.