My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Skills and Training, Senator Watt. The Albanese Labor government wants Australians to have access to secure, well-paid jobs, and apprenticeships are a great pathway to getting them. New national apprenticeship data, released today, has found that the Albanese Labor government's focus on priority trades, particularly in housing construction, is paying off. Can the minister outline the impact that the government's policies are having on trade apprenticeship completions and commencements?

It's very good to know that Senator Smith's mother and stepfather were both proud TAFE teachers—that's how much Senator Smith believes in the TAFE system. Wouldn't it be nice to have one person over on the other side who believes in the TAFE system!

The Albanese Labor government believes in the TAFE system, and we're delivering real change to ensure Australians get the skills they need to fill the jobs we need. We're targeting investment where it will have the greatest impact and in the areas where we face our most pressing challenges, particularly housing construction.

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research released new data today which tracks apprentice and trainee numbers in the 12 months to 31 March 2026. I know the opposition is always interested in the number of people completing their training, and this new data that came out today found that the number of trade apprentices completing their apprenticeships rose 10 per cent—the best result in a decade—while trade commencements are up two per cent year on year for the March quarter in what is the third consecutive quarterly rise. In the March quarter, apprentice commencements in critical occupations saw significant year-on-year jumps: a 19 per cent increase in electrical, a 10 per cent increase in carpentry and joinery, and a five per cent increase in plumbing. The report also found a 15 per cent jump in apprenticeship trade commencements by school students. Commencements by women in construction trades were up nine per cent and in electrotechnology and telecommunications trades they were up seven per cent year on year.

These results demonstrate that the Albanese government's strategy to focus on delivering targeted incentives for apprentices and employers in priority industries is making an impact. Since coming to office, we've worked to better target government investment in apprenticeships into pathways where the apprenticeship is the primary pathway into that occupation, to ensure that investment in priority areas is balanced with spending that's focused and effective. The Albanese government wants Australians to have the first crack at jobs available here, and that's why our government continues to invest in training and apprenticeships.

Senator Smith, first supplementary?

Thank you, Minister, for the shout-out to my mum and stepdad. The Albanese Labor government is delivering real change for Australians by providing world-class qualifications through greater access to TAFE. How are the government's incentives for apprentices helping to get more aspiring tradies the skills and training they require for the jobs our country needs right now?

Nick is one of the 38,000 new housing construction apprentices backed by our government's $10,000 incentive in the first 14 months of the program. Nick is a first-year carpentry apprentice who's completing a certificate III at Beenleigh TAFE in the electorate of Forde. On the $10,000 incentive, Nick said: 'Yes, it definitely helps. Being an apprentice is pretty tough. I think it's a brilliant idea.'

We know that one person who doesn't back the incentive, or Nick the carpenter, is the Liberal shadow minister Senator Nampijinpa Price, who has previously opposed these incentives. She might need to reconsider that if she wants Nick's support, because, according to this Saturday's edition of the Australian newspaper, Senator Nampijinpa Price is eyeing a move to the lower house in the seat of Forde, which of course is home to the Beenleigh TAFE. Queenslanders take well to people from other states parachuting in and expecting to have a seat! All the best, Senator Nampijinpa Price! (Time expired)

Senator Smith, second supplementary?

The Albanese Labor government is backing more Australians to pick up the tools, become a tradie and get to work to help build more homes. How is the government supporting tradies to complete their apprenticeships, and are there any alternative policy positions to these successful programs?

The Albanese government does want to give Australians the best chance of filling the jobs that we need, and that means giving them the training that they need. We know that the right-wing coalition of the Liberals, the Nationals and One Nation want to cut TAFE and make it harder for chippies, sparkies and plumbers to get the qualifications they need.

One Nation, of course, also want to massively cut the number of skilled migrants, which will send the Australian economy into a deep recession and deprive our suburbs and regions of the nurses, aged-care workers and hospitality staff they need. One Nation also want to stop Australians from filling those jobs, because they also want to cut the training programs that Australians depend on. This is the Australia that One Nation wants: zero skilled migrants building homes, zero Australians being trained to build those homes and zero new homes. Zero plus zero equals zero in One Nation's world. That's because One Nation have zero ideas for taking Australians forward.

Only the Albanese Labor government is backing our tradies to get the skills and training they need to get ahead. They won't get it from the Liberals or One Nation. (Time expired)