Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

That is a fact. Yet those opposite argue that they are the champions of jobs. Well, those on the other side of this chamber, who have the honour of being part of government, have a responsibility to build opportunities with the private sector to create jobs, not to destroy them.

This government talk big on vocational training and jobs, but, instead of investing in TAFE and jobs, they're gutting the TAFE system. This is nowhere more apparent than in Tasmania, where there's been a loss of jobs and apprenticeships. We know that over $3 billion has been cut out of TAFE. That is not good enough. We need more investment in apprentices and vocational training. From all the evidence thus far, my home state of Tasmania is under threat. We have this 'pipeline of new jobs and investment' but no plan for ensuring that it's carried on in the long term. We are short of tradespeople, yet we see this government gutting and cutting the TAFE sector.

Those opposite promised so much at the federal election but they have delivered nothing but job losses in Tasmania. In Northern Tasmania, wages have gone backwards by more than $3 an hour. Jobs and pay in general are stagnating, but we are actually going backwards. It is an indictment of this federal government. (Time expired)