Maria Vamvakinou (Calwell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Skills and Training. How is the Albanese Labor government's delivery of fee-free TAFE and vocational education and training helping to produce a skilled workforce?

Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Skills and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Calwell for her question and for her advocacy for TAFE, particularly in Melbourne's north and Melbourne's west. Mr Speaker, the government, as you know, inherited $1 trillion of public debt, but it also was left with a massive skills deficit across the economy.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Page is warned now. The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order?

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On relevance—the question was very specific: 'How is a fee-free TAFE helping to produce a skilled workforce?' That is not an excuse to—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Resume your seat.

You don't have the call. Resume your seat.

Honourable members interjecting—

There's far too much noise in the chamber. The manager has raised a point of order. I'm going to call the minister back to the question.

Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Skills and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We were left, of course, with a massive skills deficit. Wherever you looked across the economy, whether it was the care sector, IT or traditional trades, there were skills shortages across the economy.

For that reason, it was critical that we moved very quickly and struck agreements with all state and territory governments to deliver, for this year, 180,000 fee-free TAFE and VET places. And that's what we've done. We've reached agreement with all governments—something that the previous government could not do—to supply the skills to the economy that are in demand.

That has been, of course, an absolutely vital thing for businesses that are crying out for skills they are in need of and for workers that need the skills that are in demand so that they can have secure employment, a decent career progression and decent wages. That's why it's so important that we supply the skills that are needed.

Enrolment for TAFEs and VET providers is still open. I call upon those people that are interested in entering into courses for skills that are in demand to do so, providing opportunities for their employment and providing skills that businesses need. I think it would be a wonderful thing for them to consider doing. There is no doubt that it is important to get qualifications past secondary school. Nine out of every 10 jobs that are created are indeed created with these skills that are needed, and those are things gained with a post-school qualification—university degrees and VET qualifications. It's critical that people acquire the skills that are in demand so they can have decent employment, decent career progression and the like.

When I was at Box Hill TAFE I met with a student, Thomas, who had originally entered into a university course. Academically he was very capable, but he found it was not for him. Now he has enrolled into an electrotechnology course, and he's going to be one of those people that can participate in the transformation of the energy sector. He has chosen that path, and that is going to lead to a great career in the energy sector. It will be an area in massive demand, and it will mean a great job and a great career for him.