Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Skills and Training, Senator Watt. The cost of living is front of mind for all Australians, and we know that the cost of courses is often a significant barrier to studying for many existing and aspiring students. Over the next decade, nine out of 10 new jobs will require post-secondary qualifications, and almost half of them will come through a VET pathway. I note that Mr Dutton and the Liberals and Nationals oversaw a chronic skills deficit, and they believe that investment in TAFE is just wasteful spending. How is the Labor government continuing to prioritise skills and training and removing the cost barriers for Australian students? What are the key challenges to delivering this support to Australian students?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Senator Grogan, who I know is a very strong supporter of TAFE and the free TAFE program that our government is putting forward. The Albanese Labor government know that Australians are doing it tough right now, and that's why our economic plan is all about helping people with the cost of living while also driving down inflation. A key part of our cost-of-living support is helping more Australians access high-quality training for free so that they can get secure, well-paid jobs. That's what the Albanese government's free TAFE places agenda is all about. Our free TAFE initiative is bringing down the costs of getting a qualification, saving students money and helping them into better paid jobs.

Working with the states and territories, our government's free TAFE initiative is also making immediate inroads in addressing the skills shortages faced by Australian employers. The enormous uptake of enrolments in its first 18 months demonstrates what a critical difference free TAFE makes to Australians looking to undertake training. Since free TAFE started in January 2023, there have been more than 508,000 enrolments in courses in priority areas, including construction, early education, digital technology and care. Importantly, one in every three places has been taken up by people in regional communities and six in every 10 enrolments have been women.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We are hearing the sneering coming from the other side of the chamber about the idea that Australians would get free TAFE courses to help them into a better job. Given the significant benefit the program is providing to women in regional towns, you might be surprised to hear what the deputy Liberal leader, the member for Farrer, said about free TAFE. She called it 'wasteful spending'. How arrogant! They sneer at regional Australians trying to get ahead and they sneer at women trying to seek to re-enter the workforce by getting a free TAFE place that is being provided by the Albanese Labor government.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Grogan, first supplementary?

Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On this side of the chamber, we know that vocational education and training plays a crucial role in addressing the skills shortages in critical areas like construction. Can the minister outline how the Albanese Labor government's investment in fee-free TAFE will support more Australians to pursue careers in construction?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can, Senator Grogan. Under our government, we're helping more tradies get the qualifications they need to build more homes and we're helping them get those qualifications for free.

Senator Henderson scoffs. Was that a scoff or a sneer? I'm not quite sure what that was.

A government senator: It was a sneer.

It was a sneer, wasn't it? It was a sneer at the idea that we would help people get into construction trades through free TAFE courses. More than 35,000 Australians are doing free construction courses through our free TAFE policy in the program's first 18 months. Last week our government made announcements with the Western Australian and South Australian governments that will make more free TAFE places available in construction and housing courses—because, if we want to build more homes, we need more boots on the ground. Unlike an arrogant Peter Dutton, we won't sneer at young Australians seeking—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Watt, you need to (1) refer to those in the other place by their correct titles and (2) withdraw the comment.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw. Under an arrogant Mr Dutton—was that it?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You are reflecting on his character.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Okay. We won't sneer at young Australians seeking a qualification in construction and call it wasteful spending. We will deliver that support to people who need it. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Grogan, a second supplementary?

Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We have an ageing population and there's an increasing demand for care and support services across the country. How does fee-free TAFE support the development of a skilled and resilient workforce in the care sector and what are the key barriers to meeting our workforce needs?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Free TAFE is helping train more carers to look after our loved ones, whether they be young or old. Over the past 18 months, the most enrolled free TAFE courses were in early childhood education, individual support and nursing. In fact, there have been over 130,000 new enrolments in aged-care and disability care courses. That's 130,000 Australians getting the skills they need for free because of the Albanese Labor government. We need to grow the next generation of high-quality health and aged-care workers, and removing cost barriers with free TAFE will continue to attract students into care industries which still need more workers.

For example, in Queensland, a student enrolled in a Diploma of Nursing course would save almost $16,000 under our free TAFE policy. Cristy is one of those students training at the Loganlea campus, and she says that free TAFE is:

… a 'huge help'. The financial support has allowed me to focus on my studies without worrying about tuition costs.

That's what free TAFE is doing for Australians. (Time expired)

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, on a point of order, I wonder if you could take some time post question time to reconsider your ruling on the use of the word 'arrogant'. My submission to you would be that that is a word that has been used quite regularly in this place, and asking Senator Watt to withdraw 'arrogant' in relation to Mr Dutton probably is not consistent with precedent. I know that Senator McGrath might not agree with Senator Watt, but that's a different issue. I wonder if you could consider that and perhaps respond later in the day or tomorrow.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Wong. I will do that.