Brendan O'Connor's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
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language: en-gb
creator: OpenAustralia.org, mprss.php script
date: 2025-09-07T23:05:11+00:00
items: Steedman, Mr Alan Peter (Pete) | Adjournment | House debates
items: Free TAFE Bill 2024; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee; Report | Committees | House debates
items: Gorton Young Leaders Awards | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: Manufacturing Industry | Adjournment | House debates
items: Valedictory | Parliamentary Representation | House debates
items: Vocational Education And Training | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Renewable Energy: Employment | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2024-2025; Consideration in Detail | Bills | House debates
items: Vocational Education and Training | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Gorton Electorate: National Volunteer Week | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Budget | Questions without Notice | House debates

Steedman, Mr Alan Peter (Pete) | Adjournment | House debates
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description: Some of the best parties that were ever conducted in my lifetime were held at his place in Hurstbridge, which he had purchased from David Williamson, the playwright. We used to have these Guy...
encoded: Some of the best parties that were ever conducted in my lifetime were held at his place in Hurstbridge, which he had purchased from David Williamson, the playwright. We used to have these Guy Fawkes days where from 60 and up to 100 people would turn up. Starting at lunchtime, they would culminate in a bonfire and fireworks display. There'd be an effigy, and the effigy was never representative of Guy Fawkes. It was always a political rival who had crossed Pete that year. They were remarkable days. We had a wonderful time with Pete and Julie and his family. It was a sad day when Pete passed, but he had a glorious life and he did some remarkable things, including establishing Ausmusic to cultivate, promote and elevate local Australian music. Every November is Ausmusic month, and we can thank Pete Steedman, and others, for ensuring that. He got together the musicians and strategic minds of the likes of Michael Gudinski and really elevated that. Pete was a remarkable character. They broke the mould when they made him, but he will always be remembered as a decent, remarkable Labor man.
date: 2024-11-25T19:44:00+00:00

Steedman, Mr Alan Peter (Pete) | Adjournment | House debates
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description: That's right. There are a couple of alumni here. This was, of course, during the early days of Monash University and during the emergence of social movements and the growing opposition to the...
encoded: That's right. There are a couple of alumni here. This was, of course, during the early days of Monash University and during the emergence of social movements and the growing opposition to the Vietnam War. Whether it was protesting against conscription for young men or fighting for Indigenous land rights, Pete was at the forefront of many of these social movement activities. At Trades Hall in September, Gareth Evans, a senior cabinet minister in the Hawke and Keating governments, was in attendance. He recounted his success in convincing Pete to move to the University of Melbourne and become editor of its student newspaper, Farrago. So he had the quinella—the only person to hold the editorial roles of both universities. Later on, of course, he became managing editor of Oz magazine, which was subject to prosecution in London for what were then seen to be obscenities. It's a good reminder of how repressive things were back in those days. These experiences sharpened Pete's journalistic and political skills, which he used so effectively for the rest of his life. But he was a victim of the fickle fate of politics, losing the 1984 election, owing in particular to a brutal redistribution of his seat. He then moved on to assist the Municipal Employees' Union, where I got to know him relatively well. He was a really important conduit for the union in engaging with the federal government. At the time, we had just won a work value case for home carers, but we needed Commonwealth funding. Through the efforts of Pete Steedman, I managed, at the age of 25, to meet Paul Keating in the Old Parliament House in 1987, which was a great bonus for the members of that union, the home-care workers who were being paid so little. Again, that echoes what we do now: we increase and improve wages for low-paid workers and then make sure the Commonwealth funds them. That's exactly what Keating did, but it was in large part due to Pete Steedman's advocacy, which I won't forget.
date: 2024-11-25T19:44:00+00:00

Steedman, Mr Alan Peter (Pete) | Adjournment | House debates
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description: A former member of this place, Pete Steedman, passed away on 10 July. He was 80 years old. In 1983, Pete was elected as member for Casey and was part of the first Hawke government that sat in Old...
encoded: A former member of this place, Pete Steedman, passed away on 10 July. He was 80 years old. In 1983, Pete was elected as member for Casey and was part of the first Hawke government that sat in Old Parliament House. As I missed the opportunity to speak on his condolence motion, I wanted to record my sympathies and sincere condolences to his family and his many friends. I also wanted to place in the Hansard a record of his achievements. I was fortunate enough to attend and speak at a large gathering at Victorian Trades Hall on Saturday 7 September to celebrate his life. On the day, I reflected on the influence that Pete had had upon the people around him, upon the labour movement and upon the Labor Party. But his political activism started well before his arrival in Canberra. In fact, he was first known for being editor of Monash University's student newspaper, Lot's Wife, in the mid-1960s.
date: 2024-11-25T19:44:00+00:00

Free TAFE Bill 2024; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
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description: I'm very happy to rise and speak on this bill, the Free TAFE Bill 2024. I start by commending the Minister for Skills and Training for incorporating for the future an investment in education and...
encoded: I'm very happy to rise and speak on this bill, the Free TAFE Bill 2024. I start by commending the Minister for Skills and Training for incorporating for the future an investment in education and training in this country. There's no doubt that when we came to office just over 2½ years ago we were confronted with one of the worst skills shortages in this country's history. For 50 years we have not had such a great paucity of skills in so many sectors of our economy. For that reason the Prime Minister made the right decision to call together constituent parts of the economy, including representatives of employers, businesses, workers, universities, the VET sector—including TAFEs—and civil society, in order to confront the major challenges we have in our economy. One of the major challenges we've had to date and for the period we've been in government has been to deal with these skills shortages across the economy. Arising out of that summit, the first decision was made by the Albanese government and the state and territory governments to commit to 180,000 fee-free TAFE places for the first 12 months, if you like. We reached the target well before time, and we did so in order to ensure that people across this nation, whether they're in cities, regional towns or smaller communities, were able to access training and education in areas of current and future demand. The reason they were picked up so quickly was that people were really in need of those skills—not only the students acquiring the skills but the businesses that are crying out for a skilled workforce, and, at large, our economy. Out of the success of those early days, we continue to invest and continue to partner with eight other governments, six state and two territory governments, working together. I believe that there are very strong signs of success. I want to disabuse this place of the proposition put by those opposite that this has not been a successful initiative from the commencement, because the reality…
date: 2024-11-21T12:23:00+00:00

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee; Report | Committees | House debates
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description: On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, I present the committee's report entitledInquiry into the Department of Defence annual report 2022-23. Report made...
encoded: On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, I present the committee's report entitledInquiry into the Department of Defence annual report 2022-23. Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e). by leave—On behalf of the joint standing committee, and as the chair of the Defence Subcommittee, I present the committee 's report entitled Inquiry into the Department of Defence annual report 2022-23. This inquiry examined Australia's assistance to Ukraine, the Defence health system, Defence's capability assurance mechanism, artificial intelligence and autonomous weapons and armaments manufacture, procurement and inventory. Australia is facing an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving strategic environment with rising tensions and reduced warning time for conflict. Responding to these challenges, Australian statecraft and diplomacy is investing in Indo-Pacific partnerships while deepening engagement across South-East Asia and the Pacific and with our allies around the world. A cornerstone of our approach remains our unwavering support for Ukraine, a commitment endorsed by our Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in fact, this government and, importantly, the federal opposition. This bipartisan support is critical not only to Ukraine's immediate needs but also to the need for a stable rules based international order. As the conflict in Ukraine endures, it is clear that Australia's support must be carefully coordinated and sustained for the long term. Our Department of Defence and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are already doing vital work managing and coordinating this assistance. However, there is currently no central point of contact for communication and clarity of responsibilities for Ukraine, our partners and particularly the Australian public. To address this shortcoming, the subcommittee has recommended in this report the creation of a whole-of-governme…
date: 2024-11-19T16:16:00+00:00

Gorton Young Leaders Awards | Constituency Statements | House debates
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description: I rise to congratulate the talented and hardworking recipients of this year's Gorton Young Leaders Awards. Since 2009, through these annual awards, I've been acknowledging selected year 12...
encoded: I rise to congratulate the talented and hardworking recipients of this year's Gorton Young Leaders Awards. Since 2009, through these annual awards, I've been acknowledging selected year 12 students from the electorate of Gorton who've demonstrated a commitment to active public leadership within their schools and communities. These awards are an important way to recognise and encourage local young people beyond academic performance and to reward their efforts in supporting their communities. I'm consistently impressed with the remarkable achievements of the prize winners and the remarkable local talent who call Melbourne's west their home. This year we have 20 Gorton young leader award winners across 10 local schools in the electorate of Gorton: from the Australian International Academy in Caroline Springs, Lubna Lufti and Amaar Yasir; from Lakeview Senior College, Trinity Cachia and Lachlan Martinovic; from Taylors Lakes Secondary College, Laura Santoro and Sam Daniel; from Overnewton Anglican Community College, Pippa Wiggins and Asad Kazmi; from Keilor Downs College, Sage Gobeo and Venkata Harshu Tammina; from the Catholic Regional College Sydenham, Christina Stanford and Caelen Khoo; from Southern Cross Grammar, Prapti Dutta and Oli Cokovski; from Copperfield College, Jazmin Barbaro and Ali Kacmazer; from Springside West Secondary College, Emily Watts and Mananpreet Dhaliwal; and, from Gilson College, Chloe Spiteri and Samuel Mouser. All of these students have made significant contributions to their schools and to their local communities. Many are school captains and vice captains and represent their school or community officially. Some have done specific work, like running sports and other events, working with disadvantaged communities and helping the elderly, and fundraising for various causes. These are the students that people seek out for assistance and that show leadership in their community. They advocate for and help others. They put others before themselv…
date: 2024-11-07T09:45:00+00:00

Manufacturing Industry | Adjournment | House debates
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description: I rise tonight to talk about new technologies and new industries, some of which are in my electorate, and how they are part of the exciting future for this country. The Albanese government's...
encoded: I rise tonight to talk about new technologies and new industries, some of which are in my electorate, and how they are part of the exciting future for this country. The Albanese government's agenda is broad and wide. It's really looking to attend to major challenges that we confront, whether it's making sure that we meet our targets for net zero by 2050, ensuring that we provide greater sovereign capability in civilian and defence areas of our economy or ensuring that we move faster to renewables. We need to do these things. To do that, we need to have innovative companies and businesses in this country. Future Made in Australia is centred on fostering a sustainable and self-reliant economy, particularly through investments in new energy infrastructure. It's about encouraging innovation and new technologies while ensuring that this shift benefits local communities and businesses and the Australian workforce. 3D printing or additive manufacturing is an example of such an industry. It's revolutionising supply chains and manufacturing, and Australia would do well to be at the forefront of these changes. Imagine a world where spare parts can be manufactured on site rather than having to be ordered and manufactured elsewhere before being delivered, which in some industries could mean weeks or months of delay, or a world where custom items can be manufactured on demand and products can be easily and cheaply adapted to whatever bespoke requirements are needed, where materials used are optimised and waste is eliminated and where construction of new houses moves from planning to completion more efficiently, more productively and more safely. This is the power of 3D printing. It's not just the musings of science fiction writers; the future is with us now. 3D printers are currently being used by construction companies, sole traders, the defence industry and even space agencies, and they've shown that they can reduce the cost, carbon footprint and construction times for a wide …
date: 2024-11-06T19:35:00+00:00

Valedictory | Parliamentary Representation | House debates
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description: Can I start by talking about my long understanding of the importance of parliamentary committee reports. Nothing's more important than this place, of course. It is true that I've been elected to...
encoded: Can I start by talking about my long understanding of the importance of parliamentary committee reports. Nothing's more important than this place, of course. It is true that I've been elected to this magnificent place on eight occasions since 2001, and I wish to place on record my heartfelt appreciation to the electors of Gorton for their constant and abiding support for so many years. Melbourne's west and north-west have witnessed the fastest population growth of any part of Australia over the last two decades, growing by three electorates—Gorton, Fraser and Hawke—in that time. So much has changed since I was elected in 2001. As I sought to gain sufficient local support to be preselected as the Labor candidate for that election, the historic, shocking and tragic assault on the World Trade Center in New York seared into our memory, and everything as we knew it changed. It precipitated two invasions. The first was of Afghanistan to displace the Taliban regime, which was supported by the UN. The second was of Iraq, which was not UN sanctioned, which was motivated by what later was determined to be a falsehood, namely to dispossess the country of weapons of mass destruction—which turned out not to exist. While no doubt we will continue to argue about the rights and wrongs of post-September 11 actions, there was no doubt that the world had changed utterly. The rise of non-state threats, of heightened security, of challenges to individual freedoms and of community anxiety were hallmarks of those years, and continue to this day. In those early years, I recall chairing a caucus committee—this was during my first year of parliament—and attempting to manage debates on the ASIO bills involving former senior Hawke and Keating cabinet ministers, which I have to say was a little daunting. These debates dominated my first term. While there were plenty of politics at play here, with a wily John Howard seeking to wedge the Labor opposition, the competing interests of personal freed…
date: 2024-08-20T16:31:00+00:00

Vocational Education And Training | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: We saw the previous government's last budget cut support for apprentices. We've actually turned that around and are now investing more money to support apprentices and employers in manufacturing,...
encoded: We saw the previous government's last budget cut support for apprentices. We've actually turned that around and are now investing more money to support apprentices and employers in manufacturing, in the housing and construction sector, in energy, and in other sectors of the economy. To ensure that we're delivering the best possible skills, we are creating centres of excellence, bringing universities and TAFEs together and working with industry. We recently announced one in Western Australia, another in Canberra and there are many more to come. We are investing in up-to-date equipment at our TAFE campuses and ensuring we increase the number of teachers and trainers we need to provide the skills pipeline for the energy sector and manufacturing sector. While those opposite say that fee-free TAFE is wasteful spending, while they still have no plan to supply skills to our economy, we'll get on with the job of supplying skills to make sure we have a Future Made in Australia.
date: 2024-07-03T15:05:00+00:00

Vocational Education And Training | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: That was a very interesting interjection because who could forget the former Liberal-National government goading a car company to leave our shores? That's exactly what happened because of the...
encoded: That was a very interesting interjection because who could forget the former Liberal-National government goading a car company to leave our shores? That's exactly what happened because of the efforts of the previous Liberal government. Of course, they've never supported the car industry and they actually said that governments shouldn't support the industry, which makes it rather bizarre that they want to tip hundreds of billions of dollars into a risky, expensive, state-owned nuclear reactor situation. Effectively, the opposition is saying that 'We couldn't support the car industry, but we can actually invest hundreds of billions of taxpayers' dollars into nuclear reactors.' Well, what a remarkable turnaround by those opposite. The fact is, we need to invest in areas of demand and we need to invest in the manufacturing sector. That's why we introduced fee-free TAFE. We've now had more than 400,000 Australians enrol in fee-free TAFE in areas such as the energy sector, the manufacturing sector, the IT sector and more. We need to ensure we match those skills—
date: 2024-07-03T15:05:00+00:00

Vocational Education And Training | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: I thank the member for Boothby for her question. It was great to be with her at Tonsley TAFE meeting with fee-free TAFE students pretty recently. Of all the things that we've learned through...
encoded: I thank the member for Boothby for her question. It was great to be with her at Tonsley TAFE meeting with fee-free TAFE students pretty recently. Of all the things that we've learned through enduring a global pandemic, perhaps the most important was the need to be more self-reliant as a nation, to stand on our own two feet, and to build greater sovereign capability. The Albanese government understands that supporting a Future Made in Australia is essential to achieving that goal to rebuild our manufacturing sector. Those opposite have historically failed to support the manufacturing sector.
date: 2024-07-03T15:05:00+00:00

Renewable Energy: Employment | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: I thank the member for Lingiari for her question and her strong advocacy for closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in the skills area in her electorate and across this...
encoded: I thank the member for Lingiari for her question and her strong advocacy for closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in the skills area in her electorate and across this country. When we came to government, we inherited the greatest skills shortage in 50 years. We also found ourselves inheriting a vocational education and training sector that was depleted and directionless, with a complete absence of national leadership. There were no agreements reached on investment or directional reform of the VET sector with any state or territory government—not one. For example, there was little or no attention paid to the transition of the energy sector, imperative to successfully decarbonise the economy and shift to renewables, the cheapest energy source available. Upon election, we started working to make up lost time. We convened the Jobs and Skills Summit, bringing constituent parts of the economy together. We established Jobs and Skills Australia to provide strategic advice in education and training and providing skills to a fast-changing economy. Last year, 355,000 Australians enrolled in fee-free TAFE in areas of demand, including in the energy sector, with a further 320,000 courses available from this year. We struck a National Skills Agreement with every state and territory, the first of its kind in more than a decade, with $30 billion of certainty of funding over five years to make sure that we supply the skills that are needed. We're providing $10,000 in financial support to clean energy apprentices. Those apprentices, of course, will be getting a tax cut next Monday, as are 13.6 million taxpayers in this country, a result of this government. The Minister for Climate Change and Energy and I announced further investment in the clean energy sector to increase teachers and trainers, to supply the skills that are needed for this sector. Ten days ago, I was in Western Australia and I was announcing a joint centre of excellence between a universit…
date: 2024-06-25T15:00:00+00:00

Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2024-2025; Consideration in Detail | Bills | House debates
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description: I rise to make some comments in relation to the decision by the government to continue to invest in skills and training and invest in our future. The budget handed down three weeks ago by the...
encoded: I rise to make some comments in relation to the decision by the government to continue to invest in skills and training and invest in our future. The budget handed down three weeks ago by the Treasurer is one for every Australian. We're delivering a tax cut to every taxpayer and a $300 energy rebate to every household. Helping Australians with the cost of living is our government's No. 1 priority, so we're making medicines cheaper, increasing Commonwealth rental assistance and waiving $3 billion of student debt. At the same time, the budget will ensure that we continue to strengthen the VET sector, close national skills gaps and train the skilled workforce we need right across the economy, including to achieve our ambitious goals of building 1.2 million more homes, net zero and a Future Made in Australia. While the opposition budget reply did not contain a single skills policy, our budget included measures to bolster skills growth and development in the clean energy sector, the construction and housing sector, and the manufacturing sector, as well as to support apprentices and break down barriers for women in male-dominated industries. These investments continue our work to remove cost barriers to education and training and incentivise people to train in areas where our economy needs them most. That's why we've made announcements to continue investing in fee-free TAFE, with 20,000 additional places to teach skills in the housing and construction workforce. By removing financial barriers to study, fee-free TAFE is giving Australians a great opportunity to get secure and stable employment. Our commitment to deliver 20,000 additional fee-free places in construction and housing comes on the back of 355,000 Australians having already enrolled in fee-free TAFE last year, and we are delivering a further 300,000 fee-free TAFE places from this year. I visited many TAFEs in Sydney and Melbourne recently with federal colleagues, including Randwick TAFE, Ultimo TAFE, Chisolm an…
date: 2024-06-04T16:53:00+00:00

Vocational Education and Training | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: Well, I won't be taking anger management lessons from the Leader of the Opposition, I assure you. When it comes to skills, the employer bodies have said that the opposition leader has no clue....
encoded: Well, I won't be taking anger management lessons from the Leader of the Opposition, I assure you. When it comes to skills, the employer bodies have said that the opposition leader has no clue. They called his budget reply 'a momentous act of economic self-harm', and the Business Council actually said that it will 'compound our existing skills shortages and make it harder to do business'. I need no anger management lessons from you, I assure you.
date: 2024-06-04T14:48:00+00:00

Vocational Education and Training | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: In their last budget, they cut support for apprentices and employers. We've attended to that, because the Albanese government knows that apprentices need more support, not less support. Under a...
encoded: In their last budget, they cut support for apprentices and employers. We've attended to that, because the Albanese government knows that apprentices need more support, not less support. Under a Labor government, from 1 July the new first-year incentive for those employing apprentices in priority areas will increase by $1,000 what was proposed under the Liberals' last budget, while apprentices will receive $5,000 in direct financial support, an increase of $2,000 from what was planned by the previous government. And, of course, from 1 July every apprentice in this country will receive a tax cut, and they would not have received it under those opposite. In contrast, the opposition have called fee-free TAFE 'wasteful spending'. They don't support the new energy apprenticeships. They don't support the extra 20,000 fee-free TAFE places in the housing and construction sector. In fact, they don't support any investment in energy or housing. You'd think that, as the country battles through the largest skills shortage, which we were bequeathed, they would have something to say about skills. But, after the budget reply speech by the Leader of the Opposition, employer groups rebuked the opposition leader—
date: 2024-06-04T14:48:00+00:00

Vocational Education and Training | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: I thank the member for Bean for his question and, indeed, for his strong advocacy for the VET sector across the country. I'll say this too: when we came to government, we inherited the worst...
encoded: I thank the member for Bean for his question and, indeed, for his strong advocacy for the VET sector across the country. I'll say this too: when we came to government, we inherited the worst skills shortage in more than half a century. The shortages extended across the labour market and were as deep as they were wide. That's why we convened the Jobs and Skills Summit, and that's why in last year alone more than 355,000 Australians enrolled in fee-free TAFE, and a further 320,000 places are available from this year on in areas of demand. It's why we struck the National Skills Agreement with the state and territory governments, the first National Skills Agreement in a decade. In a decade, you on that side did not sign up one agreement in the skills area—not one! This is $30 billion. We're also giving more support to apprentices and employers, because, when the opposition were last in government, their last budget cut support—
date: 2024-06-04T14:48:00+00:00

Gorton Electorate: National Volunteer Week | Constituency Statements | House debates
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description: Last week, Australia celebrated National Volunteer Week, a time to recognise the invaluable contributions of volunteers across the country. Today I rise to share the story of two remarkable...
encoded: Last week, Australia celebrated National Volunteer Week, a time to recognise the invaluable contributions of volunteers across the country. Today I rise to share the story of two remarkable organisations in my electorate of Gorton and the people who run them. These organisations are the heart of their communities, and volunteers are their backbone. Firstly, I'd like to highlight the Caroline Springs Scout Group who I recently visited in Burnside Heights. Led by the remarkable Claire Mouser, whose dedication spans 13 years, this group has blossomed into one of Victoria's largest and most active Scout groups. Claire's leadership has been instrumental. Lately, her focus has shifted to the eldest youth section of the scouts, known as Rovers. Claire says this group, between 18 and 26 years old, have faced unique challenges because of the pandemic. She's guiding them as they reconnect, rebuild, push their way into the community and develop their adult lives. Claire's commitment extends beyond scouting. She is also a cherished member of the Caroline Springs RSL sub branch. The partnership between Scouts and the RSL has been symbiotic, showcasing the power of intergenerational collaboration and community spirit. Claire's efforts have not gone unnoticed. Her recognition as the 2024 Melton Citizen of the Year is a testament to her unwavering dedication and service. I also had the privilege of meeting Cynthia Frane and her fellow members of the Horseshoe Bend Community Group, a collective of local volunteers devoted to revitalising the site formerly known as Horseshoe Bend Farm. Through their tireless efforts, this group has been transforming the farm into a vibrant hub of community engagement and cultural enrichment. From working bees to educational workshops, they tirelessly collaborate with traditional owners to preserve and share the rich heritage of our land. Their outreach embraces schools, families, youth groups, aged-care and disability support organisations. They gene…
date: 2024-05-30T09:51:00+00:00

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
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description: It certainly wasn't Gettysburg!
encoded: It certainly wasn't Gettysburg!
date: 2024-05-30T10:48:00+00:00

Vocational Education and Training | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: I thank the member for Chisholm for her question and her strong advocacy for TAFE. I can't wait to get back to Holmesglen TAFE very soon because they're doing great work there. In the last two...
encoded: I thank the member for Chisholm for her question and her strong advocacy for TAFE. I can't wait to get back to Holmesglen TAFE very soon because they're doing great work there. In the last two years the Albanese government has enacted big reforms and deepened its investment in education and training. We've had to work fast because we inherited the biggest skills shortage in more than 50 years from those opposite. Last year alone more than 355,000 Australians enrolled in fee-free TAFE, and a further 320,000 fee-free TAFE places from this year on are available to enrol in—investment which is absolutely vital. We also struck a national skills agreement with the states and territories—the first agreement of its kind in a decade, providing $30 billion of security of investment to the VET sector, which is critical. We're creating centres of excellence, bringing TAFEs and universities and industry together. It was great to hear how industry responded to the budget. Master Builders welcomed the focus on encouraging more women into trades and the announcement of more fee-free TAFE places in housing. The ACTU said our investment in education and training was needed after a decade of inaction and denial under those opposite—yes, we're allowed to mention unions in the chamber; it's okay! Bran Black, from the BCA, said, 'The government's commitment to reforming Australia's skills system is welcomed by business.' He added, 'The Business Council is pleased with the investments in growing the construction and housing workforce.' However, his response to the opposition leader's budget reply on skills was to warn, 'It may compound our existing skill shortages and make it harder to do business.' That's what BCA thinks of the Leader of the Opposition. Innes Willox, of Ai Group, said, 'The budget makes important investments in skilling and training of our workforce,' and welcomes the focus on construction and housing. In contrast, he called the skills portion of the opposition leader's …
date: 2024-05-28T14:59:00+00:00

Budget | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: I thank the member for Lalor for her question. She understands, as well as anybody in this place, how important education and training are for people, and I think it's clear that, if we don't...
encoded: I thank the member for Lalor for her question. She understands, as well as anybody in this place, how important education and training are for people, and I think it's clear that, if we don't invest in education and training, we're not going to deliver what we need to. In less than two years, the Albanese Labor government has enacted big reforms and deepened its investment in education and training. We've created Jobs and Skills Australia, which is advising government and industry to supply skills to transition our energy sector, to build more homes and infrastructure, to rebuild manufacturing, to provide care for older Australians and to provide education to our preschool kids. The fact is we're going to continue to do more. Last year alone, 355,000 Australians enrolled in fee-free TAFE, and a further 320,000 fee-free TAFE places are available from this year on, and that is absolutely vital. We've struck a national skills agreement with state and territories, the first national skills agreement in a decade, which is a $30 billion investment in the VET sector over five years. Centres of excellence will be created to bring TAFEs and universities together—more higher apprenticeships and improving foundation skills and more. In the university sector, Minister Clare, in response to the accord review, is implementing landmark reforms to ensure we have a more skilled and knowledgeable workforce. The fact is the budget handed down by the Treasurer on Tuesday is going to provide much relief for people in this country, but we'll also be investing in skills needed by our workers, businesses and economy. Of course, starting on 1 July, every Australian taxpayer will get a tax cut. Every household in this country will get $300 off their electricity bill. As for skills, we reversed the savage cuts made by those opposite when they removed the apprenticeship support exactly at the time you don't do that. We've actually increased support for apprentices as a result of this budget. W…
date: 2024-05-16T15:20:00+00:00