Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Reports today of the impact of the Victorian government's cutbacks in education and training are very concerning. We understand that schools are cancelling the vocational education opportunities available to their students. The Victorian schools have been hit by a double whammy. They have had the support for their vocational programs, funded through the education department, cut. They are getting rid of coordinators and the funding that has allowed schools to offer the training. And the cuts to TAFE that they have made are seeing TAFEs unable to offer the services to support the schools that they have in the past. So we are seeing a dual attack by the Victorian government on vocational education in schools. Those schools that are not headed for higher education are not going to get the access to vocational training that they used to get. The Victorian government has to be held to account for undermining the opportunities for those young people to get a skill and to get a better job. (Time expired)