Andrew Giles (Scullin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Skills and Training) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you to the member for Deakin for the question. Every day in this place we see what a wise decision the people of Deakin made last May. He came to this place having been a teacher and saw first-hand the power of education changing people's lives. And he knows, as we all do on this side of the House, that Labor is the party of education and the party of training, and we're the party of TAFE too, which is why I'm so excited to be celebrating the third birthday of free TAFE.

There's much to celebrate. There are 725,000 enrolments in courses, which is building that pipeline of workers Australia needs, whether it's nurses, construction workers, tech workers, early childhood educators and so many more. And, already, 210,000 courses have been completed, with plenty more to come.

To celebrate the third birthday, I had the opportunity to catch up with some students past and present to hear about how free TAFE has helped set them up for their futures. In particular, I heard from Ryan from Croydon in the Deakin electorate, who started his working life as a trade apprentice but was injured. He told me that, at this stage, even though he wasn't earning because of this injury, free TAFE meant that he could actually, in his words, give it a shot and see if he enjoyed this change of course. And now, thanks to his cert IV in cyber, he's got a job in that field and is really contributing to Australia's future, one of near 70,000 enrolments in tech and digital courses playing their part in helping Australians navigate the online world and helping others to stay safe.

When students say free TAFE has been lifechanging, those of us in this place should listen. On that note, the member also asked me about the future of free TAFE and risks, and I can say to everyone on this side of the House that the future is secure. More Australians under us can do what Ryan has done and set themselves up for life, but those opposite, who used to in coalition, haven't been listening to people like Ryan. They're too busy arguing amongst themselves, but they can agree on one thing—they hate free TAFE. The Leader of the Opposition thinks Australians don't value it, and they would cut free TAFE and, with it, the benefits that hundreds of thousands of Australians have seen.

Let me be very clear about this. This Albanese government will always stand up for free TAFE. Australians have sent a really clear message at the last two elections. They backed free TAFE. That's why we legislated for free TAFE, and, starting next year, it will be permanent so Australians right around the country can continue to get skills they want to do the jobs we need.

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