Amanda Vanstone (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. I think that when the question of skills shortages is raised it is relevant to focus on why it is that now we have employers saying, ‘We cannot get people with 10 years experience to do this job.’ It is not true, as we all know, that if you come out with a trade training qualification or come out of a university you are ready to do the most serious jobs in whatever your faculty area is. It is simply not true. Experience is valued and we do have a shortage of people with 10 to 15 years experience. The senator also knows very well that TAFE is the responsibility of the states and territories. But as a matter of interest he might like to know that—