Josh Dolega (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister representing the minister for Skills and Training, Senator Watt. The Albanese Labor government's signature free TAFE program is opening up pathways for hundreds of thousands of people to get qualified in jobs that communities rely on each day. Jobs like being a chippie, a sparkie, an enrolled nurse or a childhood educator rely on the skills and training that TAFE provides. Can the minister update the Senate on the progress of free TAFE enrolments and what impact this is having on the economy?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks very much to Senator Dolega, who I know is a really strong supporter of those free TAFE programs in his home state of Tasmania. The Albanese government is backing apprentices and trainees and we're setting them up for a great career. Right around the country, we're building pathways for Australians to get the skills they want to do the jobs that we need.

Through free TAFE, we're opening up pathways for hundreds of thousands of people to get qualified for jobs that communities rely on each and every day. Through the free TAFE program, we've seen 742,000 enrolments in just three years. This will keep on growing, including in construction courses and care work, because our government has made free TAFE permanent. Free TAFE construction courses have now seen more than 58,000 enrolments nationwide, helping our government build that pipeline of tradies that we need to build more homes for Australians.

Another way is through our Key Apprenticeship Program, which provides $10,000 in incentive payments for new apprentices in housing construction and new energy industries, plus incentives for most employers too. We rolled out this program in July 2025 and, since then, more than 29,000 Australian apprentices have made their start in housing construction trades backed by our incentive payments. From carpenters to plumbers and electricians, the Albanese Labor government is backing more Australians to kickstart their apprenticeship in housing construction and helping them through to the finish line, too, with our $10,000 incentives. One such apprentice is Nick, a first-year carpentry apprentice from my home state of Queensland, who's earning and learning thanks to our Key Apprenticeship Program. Nick is one of 6,731 new housing construction apprentices in Queensland. Nick said he saw this carpentry apprenticeship as a pathway to setting himself up for the future in a job that is quite literally nation-building.

I hear the shadow minister piping up over there. Who could forget that first interview she did as the shadow minister for skills and trade, where she said she wanted to cut this program and take rights away from housing apprentices.

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Skills and Training) | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I didn't. That's you lying again.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Wong, on a point of order?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask you to ask the senator to withdraw that please.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

I didn't hear anything, Senator Wong. I'm not even sure who you're referring to.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Nampijinpa Price made an unparliamentary remark in relation to Minister Watt. I'm requesting—

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Skills and Training) | Link to this | Hansard source

It's being deceitful.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

She's now saying it again. I'm requesting that she withdraw.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Nampijinpa Price, I didn't hear you make an unparliamentary remark, but, in the interest of the chamber, I would ask that, if you did, you withdraw please.

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Skills and Training) | Link to this | Hansard source

I was talking about what you suggested I said, which wasn't—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Nampijinpa Price, when I ask for a withdrawal, I want you to withdraw without making comment. I'm asking you to do it again.

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Skills and Training) | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. Senator Dolega, first supplementary?

Josh Dolega (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Having a pipeline of skilled tradies in the critically important housing construction sector is vital in ensuring there are more homes being built in communities across the country. What other programs is the Albanese Labor government investing in to get more skilled people building more homes?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) | Link to this | Hansard source

I know Senator Nampijinpa Price is a bit sensitive about her voting record. She's already been a National, now she's a Liberal and before long she's going to be a One Nation senator. So I understand the sensitivity, Senator Nampijinpa Price. Whether it's free TAFE or the Key Apprenticeship Program, the Albanese Labor government is supporting the—

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Skills and Training) | Link to this | Hansard source

That's right. Go personal when that's all you've got. You're pathetic.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) | Link to this | Hansard source

You'll be able to say whatever you want when you're in One Nation. You haven't got long to wait. We all know you're going there. It's okay.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Watt, I'm going to direct you back to the question. I'm also going to direct you to respond to the chair.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying, the Albanese government is supporting the next generation of tradies to get the skills they need. But of course not everyone in this chamber shares the same support of tradies that we do. Like their position on cutting tradies' wages, raising tradies' taxes and scrapping tradies' conditions, the Liberal Party and One Nation, including Senator Nampijinpa Price when she's a One Nation senator, are on a unity ticket when it comes to axing free TAFE. They're happy to go to a worksite, whack on the hi-vis vest and chase tradies' votes, but, every time they have a chance to vote for tradies, they vote against them, including by voting against free TAFE.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Dolega, second supplementary?

Josh Dolega (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese Labor government is backing more Australians to become more qualified with the skills that we need, including in the care sector, for more nurses and aged-care workers. Minister, why is it important that the government present a united front in their support in getting more Australians into work?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) | Link to this | Hansard source

Care sector courses as well are important in free TAFE. They represent one in four free TAFE enrolments nationally, and more than 60 per cent of all free TAFE enrolments are from women. The Albanese Labor government is all about building up our workers with the skills they need to get the job they want.

That, of course, is the complete opposite of what we're seeing happening on the other side of the chamber. Instead of the Liberal Party building each other up, they are tearing each other down. Just today we saw more reports that Liberal MPs are already saying their new opposition leader is on borrowed time. One Liberal went as far as saying this: 'What's not immediately obvious is who's viable as an alternative.' Guess what? You perform like this, and people become viable. They haven't got a viable alternative, but one is going to become viable because of what a shocker of an opposition leader Mr Taylor has become. We've been out there talking about the cuts and chaos from the Liberals and One Nation. It turns out it's the cuts from One Nation and the chaos of the Liberals after all. Cuts and chaos are not what we need. (Time expired)