MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:14:41): This is sort of a re-run in terms of a matter that was before the media during the winter recess. Clearly the member still has not got the memo, and the memo is this: that the data is two years old. It predates our significant investment in student support of $11.7 million and our landmark free TAFE initiative. This investment is helping more Victorians get qualified—get certifications—and of course get jobs. We want people to be able to be trained in the jobs that are available now and into the future. In 2017 the TAFE sector was still suffering from the drastic cuts and closures that those opposite inflicted on the system. We are rebuilding that trust, we are rebuilding that sector, and you can see that in terms of how people have come to TAFE and have enrolled in free TAFE. We have seen many, many people graduate, particularly in certificate II. In terms of certificates III and IV, people are still enrolled—they are still doing it—because of the length of their courses. Those opposite want to rely on old data, data that is not connected to what is happening now. They have not been able to shift their brain set from this side to that side. There has been dramatic reform in the TAFE sector, yet now they continue to try to trash TAFE, trash kids’ ability to learn and trash any semblance of people wanting to get on with their life with real skills leading to real jobs in this great state.
Category: Parliament
