Illawarra’s federal Labor politicians Stephen Jones and Sharon Bird made no apology for “getting back to the business of backing our TAFE”.
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The Members for Whitlam and Cunningham respectively, dropped by Wollongong TAFE on Friday to talk up Labor’s plan to scrap upfront fees for 100,000 TAFE students who choose to learn the skills that Australia needs.
The pledge made by Labor Leader Bill Shorten during his budget reply, was welcomed by both the NSW Teachers Federation and the Australian Education Union.
Master Builders Australia also welcomed the Opposition Leader’s strong focus on skills and training.
“Labor’s plan to tackle skills shortages by scrapping upfront fees for 100,000 TAFE students and modernising TAFE facilities is a very positive step as our industry strives to attract more apprentices,” CEO Denita Wawn said.
Fiona Phillips, Labor’s candidate for Gilmore, herself a former TAFE teacher, said the Liberal’s “savage cuts” to skills and training from 2013-18 has resulted in Australia having 140,000 fewer apprentices today.
“I’m absolutely ecstatic about our announcement for TAFE,” Ms Phillips said.
“We know that people in Gilmour have been doing it tough. We have seen a 34 per cent decline in apprenticeships. We have the lowest workforce participation rate in Australia and we also have record levels of youth unemployment under this government.
“I know as a TAFE teacher myself I have seen a whole range of programs like pre-apprenticeships axed, like Outreach axed.
We have seen a 34 per cent decline in apprenticeships. We have the lowest workforce participation rate in Australia and we also have record levels of youth unemployment under this government.
- Fiona Phillips
“It is no surprise that at the time those programs were axed that our youth unemployment has soured.”
Mr Jones, Labor’s spokesman for regional communications, services and local government, said scrapping the upfront fees for 100,000 students is an incentive for employers to put on an apprentice or trainee because they know those fees aren’t going to be built into their labour costs.
Ms Bird added investing in high quality for public education across the nation is the best way to build a stronger, more prosperous and equitable nation.
“We’ve seen TAFE under attack. We’ve seen campuses close in our local area. We’ve seen courses lost. We’ve seen teachers lost. We need to get back in the business of backing our TAFE,” she said.
She said Labor’s $470 million plan also included:
- Investing $100 million in modernising TAFE facilities around the country
- Guaranteeing at least two out of three Commonwealth training dollars goes to TAFE
- Ensuring one in every 10 jobs on Commonwealth priority projects are filled by Australians apprentices.
- Providing 10,000 pre-apprentice programs for young people who want to learn a trade
- Providing 20,000 adult apprentice programs for older workers who need to retrain
Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
