Dan Repacholi (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move, in relation to prioritising trade apprentices:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges the Government's commitment to supporting apprentices and addressing the skills shortage which was left unaddressed by the previous Government;

(2) notes the failure of the previous Government to adequately support trade apprentices, instead diverting taxpayer funds to big business, including:

(a) $72 million to McDonald's, which posted record profits of $360 million in 2022-23;

(b) $28.3 million to Grill'd, despite its profits surging by 700 per cent, hitting $15.8 million in 2020-21; and

(c) $1.6 million to a Domino's franchisee in South Australia, which was later banned from employing apprentices due to a failure to meet training obligations;

(3) commends the Government for prioritising trade apprentices through new initiatives, including:

(a) introducing the Housing Construction Apprenticeship Program, providing $10,000 incentive payments for apprentices in key residential construction trades; and

(b) increasing the allowance for apprentices living away from home, the first increase in more than 20 years; and

(4) supports these measures as vital steps towards building a skilled, sustainable workforce.

I want to highlight this government's strong commitment to its apprentices. Right now is a great time to start an apprenticeship in Australia. Sparkies, plumbers, chippies, mechanics, landscapers, painters, brickies, boilies, fitters and so many more other workers that keep our economy booming are all vital trades that begin with an apprenticeship.

When we came into government three years ago Australia was facing a severe skill shortage. This shortage spanned numerous trades and industries, holding our economy back and limiting growth opportunities for the business sector across Australia. When I speak to businesses in the Hunter they tell me that the lack of skilled workers is stifling their ability to expand. Whether they're in mining, viticulture or manufacturing, businesses are struggling to find the workers they desperately need.

We listen to what businesses are telling us, and that's why addressing the skills shortage has been one of our highest priorities. We knew it wouldn't be an overnight fix. Instead we've made a long-term investment in growing our skilled workforce by opening up pathways to education and training and making apprenticeships more attractive. Through long-term investment, we are steadily closing the skills gap. We've rebuilt the TAFE system and provided apprentices with the support they need to succeed.

We had to rebuild the TAFE system because those opposite unfortunately left TAFE in ruins. They gutted funding, leaving the system on its knees. Is it any wonder that these reckless cuts led to a skills shortage? Without a strong TAFE system, how can we train the workers our economy needs? Those opposite like to think they understand the economy better, but their actions tell a different story. By slashing TAFE funding and making apprenticeships harder to complete, they discouraged people from entering the trades, making the skills crisis even worse.

We have still got a long way to go, but this government is committed to ending the skills shortage by supporting apprentices at every stage. Recently we announced even more initiatives to further support apprentices. We are providing up to $10,000 in incentive payments for apprentices to keep in key residential construction trades. We have also increased the allowance for apprentices living away from home—the first increase in over 20 years. Those opposite have shown their true colours and have said these investments are wasteful spending. Their flawed logic suggests that by cutting TAFE funding and slashing apprenticeship support, skilled workers somehow would just appear. When they did make cuts, they didn't re-invest that saving. Instead, they handed millions of taxpayers' dollars to their big-business mates—$72 million to McDonald's; $1.6 million to a single Domino's franchisee, who, later, was banned from employing apprentices for failing to meet training obligations. Although I do love a good burger, I don't think the previous government should have wasted $28 million in taxpayers' money on the Grill'd burger chain. That money should have been spent directly on supporting apprentices as they gained the skills to help power our economy.

The fact is that the opposition makes life harder for apprentices because they look down on people who don't have a university degree. I've had coalition supporters tell me that I'm not educated. They mock me for dropping out of school. But I'm proud that I went to TAFE. I'm proud that I chose a job where I could work with my hands. It takes all types of workers to build a strong advanced economy like the one that we have here in Australia. All Australian workers deserve respect and should be supported in pursuing the career of their dreams.

Just last week, I spoke with Jackson, who's a young chippie from the Hunter. He told me that without the government's support, he wouldn't have been able to afford the tools and training he needed to complete his apprenticeship. Thanks to our investment in TAFE and apprenticeship incentives, Jackson is now on track to becoming a fully qualified carpenter, helping to build the homes and infrastructure in our community. Completing an apprenticeship is more than just learning technical skills. It's about developing confidence, building connections and preparing for a successful career.

That's why TAFE is so important. It gives apprentices the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and gain valuable insights that will help set them up for long-term success. I'm proud to stand here as a member of the government that values and respects apprentices—the government that is making their lives easier, not harder. We are building the workforce Australia needs to end the skills shortage and to make our country the best place it can be. To those that look down on tradies, honestly, shame on you. Tradies are the ones that build your houses. They're the ones that cut your hair and cut your kids' hair. They're the ones that do the concreting. They're the ones that do all the work where people get their hands dirty for the ones that don't want that. Shame on you for looking down on them.

Terry Young (Longman, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is there a seconder to the motion?

Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I second the motion and reserve my right to speak.

Jenny Ware (Hughes, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Hunter for bringing this motion, because it gives me an opportunity to say to the member for Hunter that I am similarly very proud of him—that he went through the vocational education training sector. I'm similarly very supportive of that sector, as it is the sector that builds Australia. I have said in this place a couple of times how proud I am of my first-born son, who has just commenced a plumbing apprenticeship. I am certainly very supportive of the skills and training sector.

The issue that I have, though, with the government's approach to this sector is that it only ever talks about TAFE. We hear, 'fee-free TAFE', and for the reasons I'm going to set out shortly, the fee-free TAFE legislation is simply not going to do what it was designed to do, because, yet again, Labor loves the big slogan, the big headline, 'It's all going to be free.' But over and over again, their delivery on policy demonstrates that they cannot deliver that that they proclaim so loudly through a megaphone. Data released by the National Centre for Vocational Education and Research has confirmed that, instead of trending up, as we were under the former coalition government, Australia has lost over 80,000 apprentices and trainees from the national training pipeline since the Albanese Labor government took office. Why is it that the government will only fund TAFE? Why do we just hear, 'TAFE, TAFE, TAFE, TAFE, TAFE'?

On our side of the House, we support students who wish to go into vocational education and training if they want to go and get that training from a private registered operator. For example, I've met with the National Electrical and Communications Association. They currently have between 500 and 600 apprentices on their books in the carpentry and building trades. There is no funding available to this organisation from the fee-free TAFE legislation, but this organisation has a 90 per cent apprenticeship completion rate. TAFE has a 50 per cent completion rate. I've also met with the Master Plumbers NSW, and I give a big shout-out to CEO Nate Smith. He said that his operation has an 80 per cent success rate in getting their plumbing apprentices through. Compare that to the rate at TAFE of 50 per cent. In April last year, Master Plumbers NSW wrote to the then skills minister, Brendan O'Connor, and sought joint funding to establish a new skills and training centre out in Western Sydney. The response was completely unequivocal. It appears that the government, who spouts their support for this industry, will not support Western Sydney in having anything other than TAFE-provided funding.

The reason that the coalition is opposing Labor's TAFE-only approach is that we support all students in this sector, not just some. We'll back every single student, regardless of whether they are training at a TAFE or at an independent provider, because, on this side of the House, we are about providing people with choice. A student who's starting vocational education or training should, if they are going to receive government funding, be able to avail themselves of the choice to either go to TAFE or go through a private operator. Why does this government so dislike private operations? Why do they not support anything other than a heavily unionised TAFE workforce? We are very concerned about Commonwealth funding, taxpayers' money, that only directs resources to one particular training model, and it's a training model that is not nearly as successful as training models developed through the private sector. I'm certainly not saying that TAFE should be defunded; I'm saying that the private sector should be equally well funded.

Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As one of the few members of parliament who actually went from school straight into a trade, I can testify to the importance of apprenticeships, especially for young Australians to establish themselves in a workforce and as an opportunity further educate yourself. Some of the best lessons I've learnt, even in this place, were learnt on the factory floor when dealing with migrants and the unfair treatment that they received during that time. You also start to realise the importance of apprenticeships and how short-changed they are. They're working for sometimes 25 to 30 per cent less than the person standing next to them doing exactly the same job.

Labor has long been the party for the worker and for training, and TAFE is so important. It's important right across all fields, no matter what field you look at, which is why I shake my head when I listen to those opposite talking down TAFE and saying, 'It's no good; we should look at registered training providers.' Well, during the Morrison-Turnbull-Abbott mess we saw the important issues that people faced through the dodginess of some of the RTOs that were costing millions of dollars and not delivering anything. It's important right across, no matter what fields you look at, which is why I shake my head when I listen to those opposite talking down TAFE, saying that it's no good and that we should look at registered training providers. We saw, during the Morrison-Turnbull-Abbott mess, the important issues that people faced through the dodginess of some of the RTOs that were costing millions of dollars and not delivering anything.

If trade training was important to those opposite, why would they shut down trade training centres like, in my home state of Victoria, a trade training centre that actually encompassed the use of independent and public schools to train kids in things like building, construction—the workforce shortage we've had, which has helped create the mess that we were left with when we came into government—and automotive. And we know what happened with the automotive sector, when Joe Hockey stood in parliament and pushed Holden out of Australia while his Liberal mate in Victoria, Dave Hodgett, was sitting in the foyer at GMH trying to support the automotive industry. That's what we had. They did not care about trades. They never have, and they never will.

We wouldn't have the shortage we have if they'd kept trade training centres open, with the ability for kids in country areas to actually access trades and utilise different services at different schools. Assumption College had a fantastic commercial kitchen, so those that were learning the culinary trades could go there, no matter what school they went to. If you were into automotive, you could go to Seymore College or Whittlesea—same as you could go to Whittlesea, Broadford or other places to learn about building. That's a generation of children that went through school, became adults and didn't get access to the great support of TAFE or to the educational opportunities that they could have had if the former government not blown the budget that badly and destroyed training in Victoria and across the nation.

The importance of TAFE can never be underestimated. It's there for a fantastic reason—the opportunity to help kids build a great future and then have a great career. That's why it's important that we've committed to the $10,000 incentive payment for Australians going through construction apprenticeships—because we have a crisis in housing in this country, a crisis that started back in late 2017. It was at that time that we were talking about a housing crisis. I think the words used by those opposite were 'get rich parents'. I remember that strongly; under Turnbull, it was 'get rich parents'. That was your way to get a house. That was their excuse. The Leader of the Opposition is living testament to this; the only way he could get a house was through rich parents. But not everyone has rich parents.

The opportunity to learn a trade, go out, forge your own career and build in this country was savagely cut over the nearly six years that they were in government. That has become a national disgrace. We need to import workers to do the work while the training begins, but, at the same time, we're got those opposite saying that we shouldn't be doing that either. They don't want to train people. They don't want to bring people in to do the job. But they'll sit there and complain about a housing crisis that they were very heavily involved in starting in the first place. The housing crisis didn't start on 22 May; it started a long time ago. But it really raised its head in 2017, and those opposite put their heads in the sand and did nothing about it.

Supporting apprenticeships is so important for a whole range of things. The member for Hunter went through before the different trades that people need. When we look at every facet of life, we've got great apprentices that have been trained and gone on to successful careers.

I'm proud to have done my apprenticeship. I went to the Collingwood TAFE—although you try to avoid anything with Collingwood! It was a great learning curve to go there and meet hundreds of different people from across the state and from similar situations, learning. Sadly, we've seen a lot of the trades disappear off our shores. I was in the footwear and clothing industry, and that's now gone overseas. There's only a handful of small manufacturers here today. We've got to bring them back if we want to end our skills crisis. We must fix up our issues in relation to supply chains; we've got to start doing more here. It's this government—the Albanese government—that's actually enabling apprenticeships in this nation.

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Hunter brings to this chamber a motion about apprentices, and, despite the member for McEwen's protestations, which rubbished the coalition and rubbished good old 'Collingwood forever'—I'm not quite sure what he's got against the Magpie supporters—when you look back at the years, particularly of the Morrison government, what you see is delivery. What you saw in those nine years was a government with a laserlike focus on making sure that our apprentices had the very best environment so that they could not just survive but thrive—so that they could be their best selves.

What we had in those final couple of years—certainly, 18 months—of the Morrison government was a global pandemic, a worldwide shutdown not seen since 1919. Not since the end of World War I had the planet being subjected to economic conditions like this. The Great Depression was obviously a great setback, but the 1919 flu caused so much heartache and disruption as well to the economic fortunes of many nations which then went into the Great Depression. Those years of the 1920s and early 30s were shocking, just dreadful. During the pandemic of 2020, 1.1 million jobs were created—not necessarily by government, because government doesn't create jobs. It's private enterprise that creates jobs. Under our watch, under our stewardship, there 220,000 trade apprentices, three years of delivery under the member for Cook's government and 1,213 major transport projects supporting 100,000 jobs. It went from $110 billion to $120 billion of investment. I mention that because, all too often, our truckies are forgotten when we're talking about people who do the hard yards for this nation. We should be applauding our truck drivers because they keep the nation going. People often say it's not a skill; I defy anybody to back one of those B-doubles or larger vehicles into the tight nooks and crannies of supermarket yards where they do the distribution of goods to those places of food distribution. I defy anybody to be able to do it. They can they do and we owe them a debt of gratitude.

The member for Hunter, in his notes to this particular bill, talks about $72 billion going to McDonald's. I always like to see somebody with McDonald's on their CV, because you know they're going to turn up on time. You know they're going to be disciplined. You know they're going to do the right thing. Why he's picked on Macca's, I do not know. I do not understand that. To the point about fee-free TAFE, it is a bit of a furphy, because those other private providers do such a great job—yes, in competition with TAFE, they've been neglected by this government. They've been overlooked by this government. Their efforts have been overshadowed by this government. We need to do the very best we can for apprentices. One of the first things that we can do for apprentices is reduce the cost of living. But those opposite forgot about the cost of living. They didn't talk about the cost of living for the first 18 months they were in office. It was only after they lost the referendum for the Voice that they all of a sudden realised that people were hurting, particularly apprentices. Those apprentices who are just getting out into their own profession need every tax break and every bit of help they can get.

The former member for Warringah, Tony Abbott, when prime minister, brought in a great 'tools of the trade' benefit so that they could get the tools by which they could do their occupations and do them well. We have always had incentives in their for our apprentices. It's only a coalition government that will look after apprentices. It's only a coalition government that will address the cost-of-living pressures that apprentices are under.

Cassandra Fernando (Holt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I stand in strong support of this motion recognising the Albanese government's steadfast commitment to supporting apprentices and rebuilding our trade sector, addressing the crucial skill shortage created by the previous government neglecting investment in TAFE and trades as vital for our country's future. Many of us know that for everyday Australians real opportunity is far more than a talking point; it can be the difference between scraping by and setting a solid foundation for the future. I have lived that reality myself. Before I set foot in this chamber, I spent 15 years baking and stacking shelves, and it showed me what a genuine chance at training and a stable income can mean for a person's life.

When we took office, we inherited a TAFE system that had been neglected for over a decade. We also inherited a workforce sorely lacking in skilled tradespeople—a gap that was holding back our economy and denying Australians the chance to learn secure and rewarding skills. That's why we've made it a priority to invest in our trades and TAFE system. Through the National Skills Agreement, we are delivering a historic $12.6 billion investment to rebuild TAFE. This agreement, signed with states and territories, will provide 300,000 fee-free TAFE places in areas in critical need, including aged care, child care and the digital economy.

We've also made free TAFE permanent because we believe that every Australian deserves the opportunity to gain the skills they need to build a better future. Free TAFE has already helped over 355,000 Australians access training since its introduction. Making it permanent ensures that this opportunity will be available for generations to come. We are guaranteeing 100,000 new TAFE places focused on areas of national skill shortage each and every year going forward. This is to ensure more Australians can access quality training in areas where we need skilled workers most.

In my electorate of Holt, I've spoken to apprentices forced to juggle two jobs just to keep their training going. Some told me they had to pull out of their apprenticeships altogether when the cost of daily life—rent, bills, travel—became way too expensive. That's why we are introducing the housing construction apprenticeship program. This will provide a $10,000 incentive to apprentices in residential construction trades. This means that someone who wants to become a plumber or a bricklayer will have extra support. We will also increase the allowance for apprentices who live away from home—the first significant increase in over 20 years. This boost is necessary to support tradies to finish their courses. This means better support for the workers we need to keep building homes and to address the housing shortage.

Labor are taking these measures because we know we need a strong TAFE sector to build our country's future, to revitalise our manufacturing sector and to start making things right here in this country, and to build the homes our country needs for the future. By lifting our apprentices, we are also lifting up the families and local businesses that rely on their income and expertise. For too long, the Liberals have neglected our trades sector. While they call free TAFE 'wasteful spending', they are more than happy for the government to fund billions for corporate lunches. This really shows their priorities. Labor knows a strong trades sector means a strong economy. A strong economy means more opportunities for all Australians. Unlike the Liberals, Labor will never take our TAFE sector for granted.

I want to conclude by acknowledging the dedication of the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese; the Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles; and Brendan O'Connor for driving these reforms.

Pat Conaghan (Cowper, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm pleased to speak on this motion by the member for Hunter. As he leaves the chamber, I note he's a big man—six foot six or six foot seven?

Dan Repacholi (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Six foot eight.

Pat Conaghan (Cowper, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Six foot eight and three foot wide—but you've got more front than David Jones to bring this motion before the Federation Chamber talking down the coalition's record on apprentices. Seriously! Under the coalition, we saw 220,000 apprentices in the 2019-to-2022 term.

Since this hapless, hopeless, helpless government came into power, we've seen 80,000 fewer apprentices, and, shockingly, 44,000 of those apprentices are women. Apparently Labor's 'the party for women', yet they don't care about 44,000 women who have lost apprenticeships. These aren't just statistics; these are real people—real lives and real dreams crushed. So please don't file motions where you haven't done the research as to who the better government is not only for trades but also for apprentices and small business.

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 12:50 to 13:04

As I was saying before the division, what we've seen in the last term of Labor is 80,000 fewer apprentices than in the last term that the coalition was in government, between 2019 and 2022. But it's no surprise, because what we've seen due to Labor's policies is the closure of 27,000 small and medium businesses—27,000. You can imagine how many people had worked for those small and medium businesses. The owners, who have put everything on the line—mortgaged homes, overdrafts—are sent to the wall because of Labor's policies. Of those 27,000, 7,000 are construction companies. That is the highest number ever of closures of construction companies.

What do those companies do? They generally hire apprentices. I can tell you from personal experience in and around Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour—I talked to the tradies because my 17-year-old son is in year 12 at Newman Senior Technical College because he wants to become a tradie and go into construction—they're not hiring. They're not putting on apprentices, because they're worried about the economy. The cost of living has hit hard in those industries. The cost of materials has gone through the roof. Why? Because of the policies of this government. Because of the all-in renewables, we have seen gas and electricity prices go through the roof. That hurts small and medium businesses.

So the tradies are worried. They're not putting on apprentices. We've seen fewer apprentices over the past three years. Then the Albanese government comes out with this $10,000 incentive payment for apprentices who are living out of home. I said to my son, 'Do you know any apprentice who doesn't live at home with mum and dad?' Now, he's got a fairly large network of mates; the answer is 'no'. All spin, no substance.

You would be better off going back to the coalition policy where we funded the employer 50 per cent of the apprentice's first-year wage, then 10 per cent in the second year and five per cent in the third year because we know—as much as I love our young apprentices—you're next to useless in your first year, you know what you're doing in your second, and you actually make money for your employer in the third. These are the incentives that we need to bring back. We need to bring back our policy. If you want to see more houses, if you want to see more apprentices, then vote for the coalition at the next election.

Steve Georganas (Adelaide, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to 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

Colin Boyce (Flynn, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on this motion as it is critical that the skills shortage is not only understood but addressed. The Flynn electorate is full of qualified trade professionals, including electricians, plumbers, welders, carpenters, automotive service technicians and mechanics, painters, nurses, dental hygienists, chefs, bakers, hairdressers, bus drivers and child educators, just to name a few. According to the 2021 census, over 30 per cent of people over 15 in the Flynn electorate have a certificate III, certificate IV, an advanced diploma or a diploma in technical and trade skills. The Flynn electorate's top response for occupation is also technicians and trade workers. Before entering politics, I was a boilermaker—a high-pressure pipe welder working on the gas pipelines to Curtis Island, near Gladstone. Many years ago, I went to Roma TAFE College and received my qualifications in engineering through recognised prior learning. Sadly, since my time, it has become harder and harder for apprentices and trainees to come through the system and into the workforce.

Now, here are the facts that Labor don't want you to know about. There are fewer Australians being skilled under the Labor government. Australia has lost over 80,300 apprentices and trainees, a loss of one in five. There are 34,685 fewer women apprentices and trainees in training, and new starts for women in skills have nearly halved, a loss of 44,605 equivalent places. There are fewer trade apprentices in training with a 25 per cent drop of new starts, and there are fewer construction trade apprentices in training with a 26 per cent drop in new starts. Skills shortages have worsened since the Albanese government took office and remain higher today than under the coalition. From June 2022 to June 2023, skills shortages increased by 12.5 per cent, and the latest data indicates 33 per cent of all occupations are in shortage, which is higher than under the coalition government. More than 27,000 businesses have gone insolvent since the Albanese government was elected, and Labor's economic failures have made it harder than ever to put on an apprentice or a trainee. With issues such as the skills shortage, it is incredibly important that we start to think outside the box and address this significant problem.

One massive issue is the lack of childcare providers, and this is particularly relevant to small communities throughout Australia. In an industry that employs 200,000 people, 21,000 more qualified professionals are required to address the current shortage. Another 18,000 must be hired to meet future demand. An additional 18,000 will be needed to help realise the federal government's childcare subsidy and expanded preschool plans. This was all found in the federal government's report released in 2024. Furthermore, if Australia wants to improve children's development by offering universal preschool, the early childhood education industry will have to grow by three per cent every year. It is clear as day that the childcare sector is struggling not only to attract but to retain workers. One idea that I've raised that is worth looking into is providing recognition of prior learning for parents and grandparents to attain qualifications to become childcare educators. I had a history of welding which is recognised, and I don't understand why the same can't be applied for the parents and grandparents with respect to the childcare sector.

The one-size-fits-all approach on education is not working and most certainly does not work in rural and regional Australia. We need a government to prioritise the valued tradies and workers, including in our skilled migration intake. For example, Labor has failed to build the homes Australians need and failed to manage the immigration system in a way that provides the right workers to help supplement the meeting of this demand. Instead, this Labor government is putting martial arts and yoga instructors ahead of skilled workers, including bricklayers, painters, roof tilers and stonemasons, in the visa queue. The Albanese government's own data makes it clear they have made skills shortages worse and have delivered the worst skills shortage in 50 years. How can a Labor government bring one million people to Australia and have a skills shortage?

The coalition has outlined our plan to train our next generation of Australians with the skills required for the workforce of the future, address the supply chain constraints and invest in skills and development, while creating more apprenticeships and traineeships and ensuring the training system is delivering the skills Australians need. Only the coalition has this plan to address this skills shortage and get Australia back on track.

Zoe McKenzie (Flinders, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There being no further speakers, the debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting.