Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in my name for today, proposing a reference to the Education and Employment References Committee relating to the technical and further education system.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

(1) That the following matter be referred to the Education and Employment References Committee for inquiry and report by 13 May 2014:

     Technical and further education (TAFE) in Australia, including:

(a) the role played by TAFEs in:

(i) educational linkages with secondary and higher education,

(ii) the development of skills in the Australian economy,

(iii) the development of opportunities for Australians to improve themselves and increase their life, education and employment prospects, and

(iv) the delivery of services and programs to support regions, communities and disadvantaged individuals to access education, training and skills and, through them, a pathway to further education and employment;

(b) the effects of a competitive training market on TAFE;

(c) what public funding is adequate to ensure TAFEs remain in a strong and sustainable position to carry out their aims;

(d) what factors affect the affordability and accessibility of TAFE to students and business;

(e) different mechanisms used by state governments to allocate funding; and

(f) the application and effect of additional charges to TAFE students.

(2) That, in conducting its inquiry, the committee must:

(a) consider any public information provided to the 2013 House of Representatives inquiry by the Standing Committee on Education and Employment on the role of the technical and further education system and its operation; and

(b) hold public hearings in all capital cities, with a minimum of Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane, as well as a major regional centre in either New South Wales or Victoria.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government will not be supporting this motion. The government is, however, highly supportive of the role of TAFE within the vocational education and training sector. As background, in 2012 the Commonwealth and all state and territory governments agreed to a new national partnership agreement on schools reform, to transform the national training system. Under the national partnership, states and territories explicitly agreed to develop and implement strategies to enable public providers, including TAFE, to operate effectively in an environment of greater competition. This is one of the milestones which states and territories must achieve for payment under the national partnership. The minister has asked the department to consider issues facing the vocational education and training sector, including those raised during the previous inquiry into TAFE.

Question agreed to.