Thursday, 9 February 2023

Vocational education and training

Bridget VALLENCE (Evelyn) (14:14): My question is to the minister representing the minister for training. The Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services has revealed that the Andrews government has slashed more than $55.7 million in funding from vocational education and training in 2021. With Victoria facing a skills crisis –

Daniel Andrews interjected.

Bridget VALLENCE: Are you speaking over me because I am a woman?

Daniel Andrews: It is not because of that at all.

The SPEAKER: Premier! I ask the member for Evelyn to restate her question in silence.

Bridget VALLENCE: My question is to the minister representing the minister for training. The Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services has revealed that the Andrews government slashed more than $55.7 million in funding from vocational education and training in 2021. With Victoria facing a skills crisis, why has the Andrews government cut VET funding?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Members on my right will come to order!

Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Education, Minister for Women) (14:15): The only thing that has been slashed in TAFE by this side is TAFE fees. They are the only thing that we have cut. In fact we have invested –

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, on the point of being accurate and succinct, I would ask you to refer the minister to the actual data in the Productivity Commission report. She might be misleading the house otherwise.

Paul Edbrooke interjected.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Frankston can leave the chamber for 1 hour – quietly and effectively.

Member for Frankston withdrew from chamber.

Nick Staikos interjected.

The SPEAKER: The member for Bentleigh is warned. The minister had only just commenced her reply and her answer to the question.

Natalie HUTCHINS: I am happy to take the question to the minister in the other house for a written response, but I can state for the house that our commitment to TAFE has been absolutely extraordinary. We did not put padlocks on gates, and we have reopened those facilities that that side had closed.

Bridget VALLENCE (Evelyn) (14:17): The Productivity Commission’s report also revealed that Victoria spends less VET funding per student than any other state or territory. Why has the Andrews government so chronically underfunded vocational education and training?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Evelyn, you have asked your question.

Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Education, Minister for Women) (14:17): I refute the premise of the question. This side of the house has invested more in VET, more in TAFE. We are rolling out our commitment of six new techs across this state after many years of neglect from those opposite when they were in power. We are very proud of our achievements in this space.