5 years ago
REPORT ON GOVERNMENT SERVICES SHOWS COALITION’S VET FAILURE
SENATOR THE HON DOUG CAMERON
The new Report on Government Services for vocational education and training exposes the depth of the Coalition’s unprecedented cuts to the sector.
The report shows a 17 per cent drop in national recurrent expenditure since 2013, meaning a staggering $4.5 billion less has been spent on the VET system than would have been if funding had been sustained.
Unsurprisingly, this has resulted in a 28 per cent decrease in government funded VET qualification completions over the same period.
The report also shows an unacceptable 28.5 per cent of employers are dissatisfied with VET.
And the Productivity Commission’s failure to report fully on equity and efficiency means there is no analysis on key issues such as access and quality.
After six years of Coalition mismanagement, the VET system is failing to deliver the skills required by industry, resulting in reduced competitiveness and productivity.
The revolving door of Coalition ministers put in charge of the VET portfolio has only served to exacerbate this abject failure of leadership.
This report further justifies Labor’s commitment to conduct a once in a generation inquiry into the post-secondary education system.
Since the Coalition were elected:
The report shows a 17 per cent drop in national recurrent expenditure since 2013, meaning a staggering $4.5 billion less has been spent on the VET system than would have been if funding had been sustained.
Unsurprisingly, this has resulted in a 28 per cent decrease in government funded VET qualification completions over the same period.
The report also shows an unacceptable 28.5 per cent of employers are dissatisfied with VET.
And the Productivity Commission’s failure to report fully on equity and efficiency means there is no analysis on key issues such as access and quality.
After six years of Coalition mismanagement, the VET system is failing to deliver the skills required by industry, resulting in reduced competitiveness and productivity.
The revolving door of Coalition ministers put in charge of the VET portfolio has only served to exacerbate this abject failure of leadership.
This report further justifies Labor’s commitment to conduct a once in a generation inquiry into the post-secondary education system.
Since the Coalition were elected:
- there are 140,000 fewer apprentices
- TAFE enrolments have plummeted by 24.5 per cent
- dodgy private training providers flourished
- students have accrued debts for courses they have not done
- employers are reporting growing skill shortages
- $24 million wasted on the Australian Apprenticeship Management System
If elected, Labor will provide $100 million to the Building TAFE for the Future Fund to commence a program of revitalising campuses across Australia.
A Shorten Labor Government will also waive upfront fees for 100,000 students to attend TAFE and conduct a once in a generation national inquiry into the post-secondary education system within the first 100 days of being elected.
Labor is committed to ensuring at least two thirds of all government funding for vocational education will go to TAFE. The balance will go to not-for-profit community providers and only the best private providers with demonstrable links to specific industry requirements.