Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) Share this | Hansard source

I acknowledge the strong interest that Senator O'Sullivan has had in vocational education and training throughout his career. It is National Skills Week this week. It is the 10th National Skills Week, and we are certainly celebrating what vocational education and training is able to offer to Australians. In particular, with the impact of COVID-19 both here in Australia and globally, we have seen an acceleration in the change in the nature of work. What we are very much focused on now as a government is our capacity to grow, to thrive and to create more jobs, which is very much dependent on employers and individuals, regards of their background, regardless of their circumstances, being able to access the right skills at the right time. That is exactly what a strong vocational education and training sector can do for Australians. The government understands the key role that vocational education and training plays in delivering Australians with the right skills for employers, and that is why, as a government, we are investing a record $6.5 billion. I will just say that again for the benefit of those on the other side. The Morrison government is investing a record $6.5 billion into our skills system. We know that you need to reform the skills system in Australia. The mess that those on the other side left—and I will address that in future questions—is still being paid for by Australians. That is why we're investing an additional $6.5 billion in skills reform across Australia.

In particular, we are focusing on wage subsidies so that small and medium businesses across Australia are able to keep their apprentices and trainees in training. We're also looking at ensuring that our skills sector responds properly to areas of demand— (Time expired)