Jodie Belyea (Dunkley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) recognises the Government's Free TAFE program has, for three years, expanded opportunity and opened new pathways for Australians to gain the skills they want for the jobs we need;

(2) notes that, despite opposition from the Opposition, the Government has successfully legislated to make the Free TAFE program permanent, securing its future and ensuring this pathway is not taken away from the next generation;

(3) observes that, through the Fee-Free TAFE Skills Agreement, the Government has partnered with state and territory governments to invest over $1.5 billion in Free TAFE program places across the country; and

(4) reflects that, unlike their federal colleagues, the Victorian State Opposition will not oppose a bill to guarantee Free TAFE.

I rise today to speak not only about policy but about opportunity, because TAFE and all it offers is not an abstract idea to me and the many students of Dunkley. It is an important pathway to one of many careers. It provides so many opportunities.

I entered TAFE in my mid 20s. Like many Australians, I was searching for something more meaningful, more fulfilling and more impactful. At the time, I had been working as a secretary, volunteering in the community, working closely with young adults with disabilities. That experience opened my eyes to the difference that dedicated, skilled support workers can make in people's lives. It also inspired me to pursue a career in youth work and community development. TAFE provided that pathway. It gave me the chance to study, to build knowledge and to develop the skills I needed to turn passion into a profession. At TAFE, I studied youth work and community development, and I am proud to say that at one stage I even taught at Chisholm TAFE. That journey gave me confidence, capability and a sense of purpose as a young woman to pursue a career and then go on to study a master's in business leadership. And I remind the House this was before TAFE was even free.

We cannot talk about TAFE without acknowledging what happened in the past. In the 1990s, TAFE in Victoria was gutted. Those opposite, when they were in government, cut $3 billion from the VET system and TAFE. The consequences of those decisions are still being felt today. We see it in our skills shortages. We see it in our housing crisis and we see it in the lack of trained workers in critical sectors like child care and aged care. That is why the work of the Albanese Labor government is so important. We are rebuilding TAFE. We are backing apprentices. We are investing in the future workforce of this country. Through direct support of up to $10,000, we are helping train the carpenters, plumbers and electricians. In Dunkley alone, there are 1,800 apprentices currently in training.

Since 1 July 2025, more than 11,000 apprentices have commenced housing construction trades. These are real people gaining real skills for real jobs.

This government is not just investing to fill our current skills shortfall; it is also developing the skills for future-ready jobs. Just a few weeks ago, I was pleased to announce with the Minister for Skills and Training a $30 million investment in the Digital, AI and Technology Centre of Excellence, a national first at Chisholm TAFE in Frankston. In addition to this, Labor has delivered 740,000 free TAFE places, opening doors for Australians who may never have had the chance otherwise. In Victoria alone, there have been over 149,000 enrolments and more than 59,000 course completions. These numbers continue to grow as students balance study with work and family commitments. Free TAFE is also delivering real cost-of-living relief. A student studying a Diploma of Nursing can save up to $17,000, while a student studying a Diploma of Building and Construction can save up to $15,000. These are real-life savings.

Despite this success, those opposite continue to oppose free TAFE. They have called it wasteful spending and previously voted against making it permanent. This is despite a track record of cuts, including the loss of nearly 10,000 full-time TAFE teaching positions nationally between 2012 and 2019. The contrast could not be clearer. Free TAFE is working, it is popular and it is transforming lives and careers. Free TAFE is now so popular in Victoria that the Victorian Liberals did not oppose a bill to guarantee free TAFE. So I say to my colleagues across the aisle: look at the numbers, look at the outcomes and look at the opportunities being created. We need more skills in this country, and our initiatives are delivering them and supporting productivity. Together, let us continue upskilling our workforce and building the future of Australians and Australia.

See this speech in context