Anne Stanley (Werriwa, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Time and time again we read and hear in the media about the critical skills shortage in Australia. This is borne out in the countless conversations I've had where people have lamented the difficulties in obtaining a tradesperson, technician or the like. The shortages are real, particularly in booming regions like the electorate of Werriwa, where paddocks are being transformed into houses and communities every day.

My electorate is home to two fantastic TAFEs, one in Macquarie Fields and one in Miller. The latter has an outstanding building and construction faculty, where carpentry, plumbing, stonemasonry and electrician studies, among many others, are undertaken on the site. Of course, in the digital age there's not necessarily the need to attend TAFE campuses for some courses. But for those for whom it is a necessity, it's nice to know that it is close to home and has such an esteemed reputation.

Australia needs to be a skilled nation to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. Gough Whitlam knew this years ago when he opened the doors of Australian universities. The Albanese Labor government knows it, too, as demonstrated in the bill before the House, the Free TAFE Bill 2024, because a well-resourced, planned TAFE system is at the very heart of the VET sector and a smart Australia.

By way of background to this bill, the Australian government has worked in partnership with states and territories since 2023 through the Fee-Free TAFE Skills Agreement to deliver more than $1.5 billion in funding for 500,000 fee-free TAFE and VET places across the country. In the first 18 months alone, fee-free TAFE has seen more than 508,000 enrolments. This is an astonishing figure and demonstrates what an outstanding success the program has been. But the figure tells only part of the story, because behind every enrolment is the story of a life changed, a new pathway to employment and economic security.

Fee-free TAFE supports training places in high areas of demand and skills need and provides access for the most vulnerable and in need to assist them to get the training they require. Unfortunately, the existing fee-free TAFE program ceases on 31 December 2026. The bill before us, then, seeks to provide ongoing financial support to the states and territories for the period after December 2026. In doing so, it will also provide cost-of-living relief for hundreds of thousands of Australians, providing each of them, along with employers and industry, with greater certainty.

The passing of the bill will support the delivery of at least 100,000 free TAFE places across Australia with its commencement in 2027. It demonstrates the Albanese government's commitment to partnerships with the states and territories for the national VET system. Equally, it again demonstrates the belief this government has in the TAFE system to be front and centre in addressing Australia's need for a skilled workforce. Specifically, the bill provides that fee-free TAFE places will continue to be targeted to priority industries that are experiencing current and projected workforce shortages, including construction and housing supply—which is great news for the Miller TAFE and my burgeoning electorate.

The legislation does not lock states and territories into the fixed mode of delivering fee-free TAFE. Rather, there'll be ongoing discussions with states and territories regarding the agreements. The precise financial contributions and conditions will, in due course, be included then.

In September I was privileged to attend, with Minister Giles, the New South Wales Premier, Chris Minns, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, and the New South Wales Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan, the announcement of the TAFE Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in Western Sydney. I spoke to students, both young and older, who were excited about the opportunities from the revitalisation of TAFE and the fact that they could afford to improve their skills for the next step in their career.

It did disappoint me, then, to hear comments by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in October in this place that 'if you haven't paid for it you don't see it as something that makes a difference to you in your life; you don't see it as something valuable'. I can assure the opposition that these students and others I've spoken to who are taking the opportunities that free TAFE is offering them actually really do appreciate them. These opportunities are making a difference not only to them but to their families and their children. The opposition has continually attacked the fee-free TAFE program, but they don't seem to have any idea.

The popularity of the program testifies to just how much it is necessary. This bill is something I'm proud of. Supporting VET and TAFE is in Labor's DNA, and it delivers on every front and in every way for Australia and Australians. Further, we know it is a winner due to its massive popularity, with the states and territories also onside. After years of neglect by those opposite, it's wonderful to see this bill give the TAFE sector the prominence and support it deserves and, in doing so, give Australians from all parts and corners the opportunity to acquire the skills that they deserve and that they are seeking. I commend the bill to the House.

Debate adjourned.