Tania Lawrence (Hasluck, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

TAFE is at the heard of skills and training in Australia, and in the parliament this week we've been celebrating our vocational education and the people who succeed in life as a consequence of their training and dedication in our vocational education institutions. Making it free has been a game-changer for so many more people who might otherwise have been locked out of further study. I want to share a message I received from a local constituent, Hudson Caust, who wrote to me:

Dear Tania Lawrence, I hope you're well—

Yes, I'm well, thank you, Hudson—

I'm writing to sincerely thank you and the Australian Labor Party for your support in making fee-free TAFE available.

Thanks to this initiative, I've been given the opportunity to pursue further education and build my skills without the financial stress that would normally come with it. It's made a real difference in my life, and I'm incredibly grateful for the chance to learn and grow.

I truly appreciate your continued work and advocacy on behalf of our community. This kind of policy is a great example of how government can make a tangible, positive impact on everyday Australians.

This is exactly why fee-free TAFE matters. For Hudson, it has removed the financial stress, and it's done that for literally tens of thousands of people across the country. It's creating opportunity and changing lives. We're seeing those results. We're seeing more people move into new jobs, upskilling and making career changes into jobs that are in demand right now, whether it be in the care and health sectors or construction, technology and clean energy.

For local families, this is about the secure pathways into jobs of the future; for business, it means a stronger pipeline of skilled Australians they can count on and rely on, who will be there today and tomorrow; and, for our community, it means a brighter future based on fairness, opportunity and skills for all. I'm deeply proud of the commitment we're delivering on for fee-free TAFE. I'm seeing the difference it's making in my community and for people like Hudson.

Recently, I attended the 2025 Swan Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. Thank you to the Swan Chamber of Commerce and the City of Swan for hosting this event. It was an extraordinary event—it was very flash—at the Sandalford winery. It's always nice to look the biz, and it was wonderful to be in the company of such diverse and extraordinary businesses in the Swan community, who employ so many people.

A highlight of the night was hearing from the House of Honey, which is a unique family farm right in the heart of the Swan Valley. They took home the award for Tourism Excellence and Excellence in Access and Inclusion. Kim and Rupert Phillips founded the business in 2010 with a bold vision to create a revolutionary honey showroom. It offers not just exceptional food experiences, gifts and wonderful things, and a sanctuary to 50 million bees, but also a hub of education. As a fellow apiarist, I am deeply proud of what they've achieved, and being recognised for it is exceptional. I'm very proud of them.

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