Bert Van Manen (Forde, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Wow! It was interesting to sit in the House for 15 minutes and listen to the member for Kingston attempt to rewrite history and absolve the previous Labor government of all sins in relation to the issues that now face the VET FEE-HELP sector, because it was actually under the previous Labor government's watch that the framework and systems were put in place that have led to the catastrophe that faces the VET FEE-HELP sector today. It is not the first time that we have listened in this place to those opposite trying to rewrite history. There has been no acknowledgement whatsoever of their failings when in government, yet they come in here and pontificate about the fact that we, as a government, now need to fix all these problems posthaste. In stark contrast to the previous government, we have taken the time to work with the industry, work with the sector and come up with a sensible set of solutions to the problems that are genuinely facing the sector.

Everybody in this country and all of us in this House readily acknowledge that every Australian deserves the right to access quality education. That is why I stand in this place today to speak in support of the Higher Education Amendment (VET FEE-HELP Reform) Bill 2015. This bill seeks to amend the Higher Education Support Act 2003 to strengthen the protection for students in the vocational education and training sector, and it seeks to push those unscrupulous training providers out of the marketplace. There is one thing that I will agree with the member for Kingston on, and that is the notion that, whether somebody is going to university or going to learn a trade, we should provide a level playing field in terms of support. I have no doubt that that was the initial intention of the VET FEE-HELP model, which is effectively an extension of the Higher Education Contribution Scheme to the trade skills sector. That has been extremely well received.

We have seen in Australia a long and proud tradition of vocational and educational training. I remind the member for Kingston that it was actually under the Howard government that we developed the Australian industry trade colleges and that Labor, when they came into government, did away with Australian industry trade colleges. The member for McPherson, who is at the table, well knows the success and tremendous achievements of the Australian Industry Trade College at Robina.

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