Thursday, 15 May 2025

Ministers statements: TAFE sector

Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:14): The Allan Labor government is building the pipeline of skilled workers Victoria needs. More than 40,000 Victorians have gained their trade papers since 2019, enough to fill Federation Square four times over. I joined the member for Ivanhoe Anthony Carbines recently to visit Melbourne Polytechnic’s Heidelberg TAFE campus to congratulate some of the newly qualified tradies. A trade paper is a certificate awarded to those who successfully complete a recognised apprenticeship in Victoria, whether through TAFE, a trade school or another training provider. We reintroduced trade papers because we know that a trade qualification is just as worthy of being framed on a wall as a bachelors degree. Trade papers are issued for over 120 different qualifications, with carpenters, electricians and plumbers topping the list and making up almost half of all those tradies who receive their trade papers. The previous Liberal government scrapped trade papers as part of their savage cuts to TAFE and training, making it harder for apprentices to get a job. Unfortunately, we saw Peter Dutton campaign against TAFE and against free TAFE, and we saw the Australian people reject this attack on free TAFE, which would have increased the cost of living for TAFE students by thousands of dollars a year. Only Labor is backing TAFEs and backing tradies who build the new houses, schools, roads and rail that Victorians need. Unlike the Liberal Party we will always stand up for tradies and their families. We have made it easier for them to find a good, stable job with trade papers and free TAFE, and Victoria now has 40,000 more workers at the ready. A trade paper is a passport for a great job and career, and it speaks many languages. It speaks high-skill qualifications, it talks about job readiness and it absolutely signifies quality that allows pathways to great jobs and careers.