Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator White. The new skills and training academy will be delivered by working in lockstep with state and territory governments; unions; universities; education and training providers; and the scientific and technical sectors. It will be vital to supporting the capabilities of Australia's world-leading defence industry. Importantly, the academy will be responsive to, connected to and informed by Australian industry. This will be an academy that strengthens Australia's sovereign capabilities by growing our industrial workforce, ensuring that industry has the people and skills it needs to realise emerging opportunities across the shipbuilding economy. The Albanese Labor government has a strong record of working hand in glove with state and territory governments when it comes to skills development. In addition to the announcement of the new academy, the Albanese Labor government has also signed landmark skills agreements with every state and territory government, and that of course includes the delivery of 180,000 fee-free TAFE and VET places nationwide in 2023, along with a range of other initiatives.