FEDERAL LABOR WELCOMES $100 MILLION INVESTMENT IN TAFE SA

The South Australian Labor Government’s announced $100 million investment in TAFE SA is a welcome contrast to the disinvestment and neglect by the Turnbull government at the Federal level, and the privatisation agenda of the South Australian Liberals.

 

It is time for TAFE to be given the respect and recognition it deserves. Labor, at both State and Commonwealth level, understands the importance of skills to the prosperity of all Australians.

 

Investment in TAFE SA is absolutely vital. Federal Labor has already committed to restoring the $630 million cut from TAFE and apprenticeships in the 2017 Budget.

 

Yesterday, Labor announced that a Shorten Labor Government will invest $1million to establish a state-of-the-art welding facility at Regency TAFE in South Australia.

 

Both Federal Labor and the South Australian Labor government have also committed to ensuring that TAFE SA receives at least two-thirds of public funding for vocational education and training.

 

A skilled workforce is the basis of a high-tech manufacturing export sector in South Australia. Yet the Turnbull government has cut nearly $3 billion from TAFE and vocational education and training.

 

The OECD has found Australia unable to capitalise on opportunities in global value chains due to lack of investment and policy action and leadership on skills development by the Turnbull government.

 

Federal Labor’s plan for jobs and skills development will boost investment in TAFE and increase quality traineeships and apprenticeships.