Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

It is a pleasure to take a question from the outstanding member for Wannon, a fine rural representative for western Victoria. The coalition believe that choosing a career in the trades is a smart choice. We are working to prepare our kids for real jobs in the real economy. We have got plans to skill our students for jobs for the future. It was interesting that the member asked about consistency. It was a bit of a trip down memory lane when I saw at the weekend that Mr Andrews, the Victorian Labor leader, announced a policy for tech schools saying, 'The old model will be reformed.' Apart from the fact that we know that Labor does not have new ideas, the old model that Victoria Labor speaks of was actually dismantled under the Cain and Kirner governments. In fact, a tech school in the member's own electorate in Portland was dismantled in 1991. It was Victorian Labor that got rid of tech schools and, in fact, it was a Victorian Labor minister who said they do not add anything; they provide no advantage. It was federal Labor who abandoned our Australian technical colleges, a dedicated school for skills and training—

Ms Ryan interjecting—

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