Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Hansard source

The government will oppose this motion. It has a number of flaws to it. But, importantly, I would highlight for the Senate that the government continues to provide significant funding to New South Wales for vocational education and training. It continues to honour all agreements struck with New South Wales in that regard and provide all funding. The government is also providing to New South Wales TAFE, one of the highest beneficiaries of the VET FEE-HELP scheme, very significant funding under that VET FEE-HELP scheme.

In regard to apprenticeships, I would highlight to the Senate that the decline in apprenticeship commencements was most marked and commenced in the period before the election of this government. It was following the 2011-12 budget of the previous government where the $1,500 standard employer commencement incentive was cut, which saw around 100,000 apprenticeships lost during that period. We are committed to providing significant support to apprentices through the $20,000 Trade Support Loans, which is nearly four times the amount of support that was available to apprentices under the previous government's programs.