Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

I would just like to indicate that Labor will not be supporting this amendment. Labor is of the view that there are some good private VET providers out there. I take the view that to simply say everything must go through the TAFE system and that we would dismantle completely the private VET sector is not a practical proposition.

We want to work positively and constructively with the government and all the senators who share our desire to see people who orchestrated the VET FEE-HELP frauds and rorts being held accountable for their crimes. We are committed to helping students. We are clearly of the view that the establishment of a VET ombudsman to investigate student complaints is the way to go, as well as, with our amendments, introducing grandfathering provisions that would ensure that existing students who have not completed their studies by the end of 2017 can continue to receive VET FEE-HELP assistance.

I think you have to deal with practicalities. The practicalities are that we have a dual system. I do not think anyone would be more supportive of the TAFE system than I would be. I am probably one of the few senators in this place whose only qualifications come through the equivalent of TAFE in the UK. I am a tradesman, a fitter machinist, and I got all of my education after school in the equivalent of the TAFE system. So I am a very strong supporter of the TAFE system, as is Shadow Minister Ellis and is the Labor Party. We want to look at how we can strengthen the TAFE system into the future, but I am not sure that simply saying there is absolutely zero room for any of the private sector is a reasonable, rational or practical approach to where we are at the moment.

I can understand the Greens' view on this. I can understand the Greens' position in terms of support for TAFE, because we want to support TAFE, but I do not think you achieve that by the views that are put forward in this amendment. The issues that I have outlined—our strong support for the TAFE system, our strong support for students, the need for more regulation in the non-TAFE sector, a proper balance between TAFE and the non-TAFE sector—are of importance. I think getting a balance would mean that there have to be more resources, more effective support for TAFE and more TAFE revival not only in the metropolitan areas but regional areas where they do such a great job. There are all of these challenges ahead of us. We support TAFE, but we cannot support this amendment.