Sally Sitou (Reid, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Recently I met a young man studying to be a glazier at Lidcombe TAFE. He had left school early and had been working in a warehouse. He told me he thought this would be his lot in life until he found out about free TAFE. This young man wanted a better life for himself. He aspired to learn new skills and start his own business, and, because of free TAFE, he was able to lift his ambitions. The skills he learns as a glazier will contribute to constructing new homes that we need. He will earn more money, and he'll employ local people. But what does the Leader of the Opposition want to do? He wants to cut free TAFE and, with it, cut dreams, cut ambition and cut aspiration not just for this young man but for the half a million Australians who are already enrolled in free TAFE. That's the difference.

This Labor government lifts people up. We help them dream bigger dreams. We want to lift your wages, lift your aspirations and lift this country. The Leader of the Opposition cuts people down. He wants to cut jobs, make cuts to Medicare and cut free TAFE. We build, and they cut.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.