Thursday, 5 March 2026

 Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:24): This week is the seventh anniversary of free TAFE in Victoria. Victoria began free TAFE in 2019. Now it is truly a national export, and I believe it will become a national treasure alongside Medicare. On the seventh birthday of free TAFE, I present the chamber with seven reasons why free TAFE is a game changer: (1) free TAFE is removing the cost barrier to quality training for over 229,000 Victorians and counting, (2) free TAFE is a cost-of-living measure saving Victorians an average of $3300 per course, (3) free TAFE is breaking down the gender barrier, with women the clear majority of students, and is helping women re-enter the workforce and transition to new careers, (4) free TAFE boosts our regional economies, with over 57,000 regional students and counting, (5) free TAFE is addressing skill shortages in key areas including housing, agriculture, business and the tech sector, (6) free TAFE is boosting the apprenticeship completion rate through a new foundation skills free TAFE course that is supporting apprentices with literacy, numeracy and digital skills, and (7) free TAFE is delivering world-class campuses, including a growing number of centres of excellence, empowering students with cutting-edge, real-world skills. I could go on, but for the sake of time: Labor is proudly delivering over 80 courses on the free TAFE list, because it is only Labor that truly supports public education for Victorian families. That is why we are protecting TAFE funding and enshrining the free TAFE program in law. Happy birthday, free TAFE. William Angliss students have baked us a birthday cake, and you can join us at 3:30 in the annexe.