‘Life-Changing’ or ‘Flawed’? Senate Divided on Free-TAFE Bill

The Senate remains divided on whether to embed free TAFE into the law.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (R) listens to the leader of the Opposition Liberal Party Peter Dutton speak in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Oct. 16, 2023. David Gray/AFP via Getty Images

The Albanese government’s Free TAFE bill has cleared the House of Representatives but faces an uncertain fate in the Senate.

Strongly opposed by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley—who argued, “If you don’t pay for something, you don’t value it”—the bill sparked heated debate at a Senate inquiry on Feb. 7.