Harry Jenkins (Scullin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I hope that I am assisting the House by devoting some time to this important issue. I wish to congratulate the member for La Trobe for the way in which she has put this important issue, which is of national significance, before the House. Regrettably, the Victorian government is displaying the sort of behaviour that we are seeing from many other coalition states, with disregard for the way in which we should invest in one of our most important resources—that is, our human resources. Just as it is in regions such as those of the members for La Trobe and Deakin, I know that my colleague the member for McEwen sees that what is happening in the northern suburbs of Melbourne is problematic. The member for Maribyrnong is here, championing the western suburbs and the importance of technical education, which is being impinged upon by coalition governments in a very false economy. The thought that they are actually cutting their budgets and saving money in this way, with total disregard for the long-term impact of their mendacious ways, is a great problem.

If we look at the history of the way in which coalition governments in Victoria have treated this sector, we will understand that it was predictable that the Baillieu government would do this. I cite as an example a school in the electorate of Batman, Northland Secondary College, which did so much for and developed so many programs for disadvantaged and low-socioeconomic communities. It then suffered the cuts of the Kennett government. It continued to survive with community support and now, in its latest iteration, has become the Northern College of the Arts and Technology and has benefited from the investment that this government has made in trades training. I think that is important.

In the Whittlesea municipality, which serves the electorates of Scullin and McEwen, we have seen the rebadging of the Peter Lalor Secondary College as the Peter Lalor Vocational College. On the campus of the Peter Lalor Vocational College we see a trades training centre about to be completed, but those who invested their time and vision in that are very fearful that the penny-pinching attitude of the Baillieu government might destroy the great impact that the trade training centre could have because of the lack of continuity.

Because I spend nights in the electorate of Eden-Monaro, in the fine town of Queanbeyan—I will not mention the suburb that I live in—I agree with the interjection from the member for Eden-Monaro that we see the O'Farrell government continuing the same sort of behaviour. These are important issues that need to be ventilated here in the national parliament. As I said, I think it is appropriate that somebody who champions their community, like the member for La Trobe, should bring this issue in front of the House. I hope that even those opposite will see that there is great value in all spheres of government continuing to invest in the important technical education of young Australians.

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