Thursday, 2 April 2026

 Sarah CONNOLLY (Laverton) (16:47): I am very pleased to be able to rise to speak on the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Free TAFE Guarantee) Bill 2026. This is going to be a hallmark of the Allan Labor government. We are going to enshrine free TAFE into law. It is going to be a hallmark of this government, but it is going to be a stain on those opposite should they ever get into government with talks of cutting free TAFE, which is why we are having to go ahead and we are debating this here today. We know history shows us that those opposite, the Liberal Party, the last time they were in government sacked 2000 TAFE teachers, shut down 22 campuses and ripped out over $1 billion from TAFE across Victoria. What an astounding record in just the four years they were last in government. This could not be in starker contrast with this Allan Labor government.

It should be said that in this place our TAFE and training system is something that time and time again people on this side of the house have stood up to speak passionately about. On this side of the house, we feel incredibly proud of our record achievement when it comes to TAFE and the training system. Our government’s free TAFE policy has seen thousands, tens of thousands of Victorians skill up and saved apprentices – get this; I was talking about this yesterday to some of the apprentices here in Parliament – over $3000 in course fees. When I asked some of those amazing apprentices who attended Parliament yesterday how much they saved, they could not put a number on it but they knew it was in the thousands. When I told them on average it was 3000 bucks, they could not believe it. I said, ‘Imagine what kind of great holiday you could have with that and what other things that $3000 could be spent on.’

Like I said, our record could not be in starker contrast to those opposite. Since coming to government, Labor has invested over $16 billion in new and base funding into our TAFE and training system, including $660 million into 45 new and upgraded TAFE campuses right across Victoria.

I would challenge those opposite to name one single new TAFE that they went ahead and built. Victorians absolutely love TAFE, and this motion is about guaranteeing access to free TAFE and ensuring that 70 per cent of all vocational education funding goes to TAFEs, given that is where 70 per cent of Victorian apprentices are trained.

I also recently read a staggering figure, and the member for Evelyn might appreciate this. When we are talking about apprentices and TAFE students, guess how many women have enrolled in TAFE? This is also why it is so important – 60 per cent of enrolled TAFE students are women. It is giving women and young women across this state incredible opportunity. It is training them up for the jobs that they could only dream about and hope for. I was talking to a wonderful bunch of women downstairs yesterday, having a hot cross bun. I was talking to them about their TAFE courses. They pointed out that if it was not for free TAFE, firstly, they would not have looked at even doing a TAFE course, and if it was not for free TAFE, they would not have been able to enrol. They were able to peruse such a wide range of courses. A lot of the young women that attended Parliament yesterday were doing a diploma of nursing, and it was just so wonderful to be able to stand and talk to them and find out how they came about enrolling in a TAFE course. They made it absolutely clear that the fact that it is free enabled them to enrol quicker to get on, get the skills and train to end up being one of our amazing nurses in our world-class healthcare system here in Victoria.

It was wonderful to meet a young woman and – I have to say it, because I am super biased, being a westie – she was from West Footscray and such a wonderful young person. We were talking about where the best hot cross buns are in Melbourne’s west actually, and I gave her some really good ideas.

Mathew Hilakari: Woolies.

Sarah CONNOLLY: It is definitely not Woolies. She was so passionate about doing a diploma of nursing, and all I could think was how wonderful it was to have such a young woman feel so strongly about the course she is enrolled in. She could not wait to get out there and be a nurse. Do you know where she wanted to be a nurse? I mean, come on, I talk about it enough here and so does the member for Footscray. Footscray Hospital – $1.5 billion – planned, built and opened by this Labor government. That is what Labor governments do. Do you know what else she mentioned? That it is so cool that she could be so close to home and work at such an amazing, world-class, first-class hospital. She was so proud as a westie. I mean – you know, I am there. I had to have a second hot cross bun after that. Really, where do you stop?

What we know is that Victoria is the birthplace of the free TAFE system – what a legacy. I remember back in 2018 when I was first running for election and was telling folks that we were helping young Victorians skill up for high-paying jobs in high-priority industries. It is funny having those conversations in the outer west because folks in the outer west know that TAFE is a great pathway for our kids to get qualified. But we are not just the birthplace of free TAFE, we are actually the national leader in this space, and that is something to feel super proud of. The Albanese Labor government in Canberra – I am not going to say copied, but let us face it – have rolled out fee-free TAFE nationwide. So the birthplace of free TAFE is now a nation leader and other states have followed, which means hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people are going to benefit from free TAFE. That is because Victoria was a nation first. That is something to feel so proud of. That is something that is in absolute stark contrast to those opposite who spent four years cutting and gutting TAFE and training services here in Victoria.

We value it so much and we have invested in it so much that we are going to enshrine it into law. We are going to protect it.

My message to people when I am out talking to them in the local community – and I talk to thousands of people – is that we have your back. We are going to protect one of the fundamental education training systems here in Victoria. We are going to protect free TAFE. We are going to ensure that TAFE students are saving, on average, about $3000 for their courses. This goes down so well. People love this, even if they are not enrolled in TAFE or thinking about doing TAFE themselves. I can talk to grandparents about it, and they can tell me that little Joey, when he graduates from school, is going to be doing a TAFE course and they are already looking into the free TAFE. It makes it a whole lot easier for busy working families to be able to afford a great education, and it is a great opportunity to get skilled up to get a priority industry job. It is just such a good story.

In my electorate of Laverton we are fortunate enough to have a TAFE campus, just across the road from my boundary actually, at Victoria University’s Sunshine TAFE campus, which the member for St Albans and I have visited on many occasions. Their TAFE campus has a direct pathway to their centre of excellence in paramedicine.

Steve McGhie interjected.

Sarah CONNOLLY: That is right, member for Melton – training our hardworking ambos. There is nothing that makes a member of Parliament and a westie feel prouder than turning up to one of those graduations and also finding out that some of those paramedics are going to be in the western suburbs working hard, looking after westies. It is such a wonderful, miraculous moment. Free TAFE matters. Victoria is the birthplace of free TAFE. Our investment, our support and the backing of TAFE in this state is unparalleled. In fact it is such a game changer that the federal government have rolled it out nationwide. Victoria has led the way time and time again, and this is a game changer for busy people, working families, regardless of their age. This could not be in starker contrast to those opposite, who only cut and close TAFE here in Victoria. Labor has revived it. Labor will protect.

 Kim O’KEEFFE (Shepparton) (16:57): In the short time that I have it gives me great pleasure to rise to speak to this motion before the house. I would like to start my contribution by acknowledging the importance of TAFE and, in particular, GOTAFE in Shepparton. There is no doubt that free TAFE provides many students the opportunity to study who otherwise may not have had the opportunity to do so. Since free TAFE was established back in 2019, more than 225,000 learners have taken up a free TAFE course. No-one should miss out on an opportunity for education and a career pathway. I would like to acknowledge all of my local and dedicated TAFE educators and staff, many of whom I am connected with. I have seen firsthand their incredible dedication and their commitment. I have a close friend Helen, who is an early childhood educator at GOTAFE Shepparton, and I have seen firsthand how deeply she cares for her students and the support that she provides to her students. It goes beyond just the classroom. Michelle is another local educator who is deeply dedicated to her students, and it is educators like Helen and Michelle that we depend on to keep the courses running and students supported. But we must also listen to their feedback and the ways that they can be assisted and supported.

In a previous working life I was an educator for 20 years, and I know the incredible opportunity we have to help others achieve their training goals. GOTAFE provides educational and career opportunities and is a critical education option in regional Victoria as there are many that wish to pursue their education and work opportunities close to home rather than having to relocate elsewhere, whether that be due to financial restraints or family or by choice. We must ensure that there are pathways for school leavers and mature students and, most importantly, a way forward that gives students choices and opportunities to succeed in life that suit them and meet their individual needs. We desperately need apprentices, tradies and a skilled workforce. We also depend on GOTAFE to be able to provide ongoing training and support to local businesses and organisations to fill critical employment opportunities in trades and construction, agriculture, manufacturing, hospitality, health and childcare centres. The Goulburn Murray Trade Skills Centre in Shepparton helps meet demand for in-demand job skills like plumbing and construction. As I close in the last 10 seconds, I would also like to acknowledge the Youth Foyer, which supports students at GOTAFE. It provides housing and accommodation.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The time set down for consideration of items on the government business program has arrived, and I am required to interrupt business.

Assembly divided on amendment: