VICTORIAN LABOR GOVERNMENT INVESTING IN TAFE

Congratulations to Premier Daniel Andrews and the Victorian Labor Government for investing in TAFE Victoria, upgrading campuses and making 30 priority courses fee-free.

These initiatives recognise the important role TAFEs play in providing quality education and skills across Australian communities.

 

Public TAFEs are central to reversing the decline in skills development across Australia, exemplified by the dramatic drop in apprenticeships and traineeships.

 

Since the Liberals and Nationals came to government Australia has lost over 140,000 apprenticeships - a decline of over 35 percent.

 

There is still no national agreement in place nearly a year after the Turnbull Government announcement of the deeply flawed Skilling Australians Fund.

 

Minister Birmingham and Assistant Minister Andrews have been asleep at the wheel on skills, and it is putting Australia’s productivity and international competitiveness at risk.

 

Even Turnbull’s allies are critical of their performance, with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently slamming the government’s inaction on skills.

 

In contrast, Labor has a comprehensive and fully funded plan that will support TAFEs and boost apprentice numbers across the country.

 

Premier Andrews and Victorian Minister for Skills Gayle Tierney deserve credit for putting TAFE Victoria at the centre of their skills policy.

 

A Shorten Labor government will support TAFE as the iconic public provider, and work with all states and territories to rebuild trust in our vocational education and training system.