Labor Party Leader Anthony Albanese announced on Dec. 5 that Australians studying in an industry with a skills shortage will be supported through free TAFE under its $1.2 billion (US$840 million) tertiary education funding election promise.
The plan intends to provide 465,000 free TAFE places and improve IT facilities, workshops, and laboratories under its $50 million (US$35 million) TAFE Technology Fund.
Albanese also said Labor would ensure that at least 70 percent of Commonwealth vocational education funding will be for TAFE.
Further, Labor promised to create up to 20,000 new university places to help address skill shortages in engineering, nursing, tech, and teaching.
Priority for the places will be given to Indigenous Australians and people who live in regional, remote, and outer-suburban areas.
Labor Deputy Leader Richard Marles said there are 85,000 less trainees and apprentices today compared to 2013.
Robert also argued that Labor would cut VET and TAFE funding, while the Morrison government was investing “record” amounts to skill Australians.
“Under the Morrison Government, university places are uncapped, and more Australians are studying than ever before—in fact, just this year there’s been a 5 percent increase from last year,” Robert said. “The Morrison Government is already delivering $2b into VET skills through JobTrainer—and it’s working.”
“So what Anthony Albanese has announced today is actually less money than what the government is investing so Australians have a right to ask why Labor is cutting funding at a time we need skills the most.”
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) welcomed Labor’s plan, but added that it wasn’t enough.
Barnes said the government university fundings cuts during COVID-19 resulted in the loss of 40,000 tertiary education jobs.
Universities Australia also welcomed the focus on skills and participation in Labor’s announcement.
“We look forward to when further details on this policy are made available.”