Mr REPACHOLI (Hunter) (19:13) 

I rise to contribute to the debate on the Free TAFE Bill 2024. As I'm a product of TAFE, this bill is very close to my heart. It is a bill that will make a massive, real-world difference to the lives of countless people in my electorate, because the Hunter has been built upon and by a hardworking, skilled workforce, and, to this day, most of our young people build their lives using skills they learnt at TAFE.

TAFE is one of the pillars that literally helps to build this country, and that's why it should be one of the highest priorities for any government. If TAFE is strong, our country is strong. As one of the only people in this place who have a trade and as someone who left school at the age of 15, went to TAFE, gained skills in an area that I enjoyed and built a career and a life with those skills, I feel I am in a better position than most others to talk about how important TAFE is.

That's why I'm proud that this government is committed to building up TAFE, instead of tearing TAFE and skills in this country to the ground, like those opposite have done before us. Make no mistake—if they form government after the election this year, the only attention they'll give to TAFE is by tearing it down. You could put your last dollar on that. Maybe it's just something about the idea of not sitting in a comfortable chair in an air-conditioned office that doesn't sit right with them, or maybe it's just that they don't respect Australians who like to get their hands dirty for a living. Let me tell them one thing: it is these hardworking skilled Australians who our country relies on. It is these Australians who go through our TAFE system—who work in our mines, producing the coal, iron ore and other critical minerals—that lead to budget surpluses. It is these Australians who fix our cars when they break down, who build our houses that our growing nation needs so desperately and who keep our lights on at night. It is these Australians who look after our little ones in child care so parents can go back to work. People should be encouraged to do these important jobs. If this is the path that someone wants to go down, it should be accessible and affordable. There should be no barriers, such as limited availability or excessive fees, holding them back from attaining qualifications they need to pursue the job of their dreams.

I know that it may come as a shock to those opposite, who haven't really got their hands dirty since playing in the playground in primary school, but sometimes school isn't for everyone. Sometimes a person thrives when working with their hands and not by sitting in a classroom. While sometimes your attitude towards TAFE makes it appear as though you look down on these people, I'd like to see you out there doing the job that they do. We already know that the former member for Cook certainly can't weld. Let's see if the Leader of the Opposition can do any better. I want to thank the hardworking TAFE teachers and staff. They give our young people the skills they need for today's jobs, and that's what makes our country strong. TAFE sets you up for life and opens doors for your future. By making TAFE fee free, we're giving people a door that they are able to open.

This is the reality that our fee-free TAFE has already provided for over 508,000 Australians who are currently enrolled in one of these fee-free courses. Those are 508,000 Australians on their way to a secure job. This means that you could be an early childhood educator, a chippie, a lecco, a fitter, a cyber expert and so much more, and you can do it without paying any course fees—without hitting your back pocket and without having to sacrifice some other part of your life to get the skills you need to move forward. Right now, there are almost 35,000 fee-free TAFE students studying construction, which is helping to tackle the acute skills shortage we found when we came to government. There are over 35,000 fee-free TAFE students studying early childhood education, which means there will be more childcare workers with the skills that they need in the sector that our economy needs. There are over 131,000 fee-free TAFE students studying nursing, aged care and personal care. There is an historic number of people enrolling in nursing, aged care and disability support, with a huge 7.8 per cent increase in enrolments, a massive increase of workers qualified in the sector, which is only going to demand more and more workers as our nation ages.

We came into government saying that we would rebuild TAFE, and clearly, going by these numbers, we have delivered. This bill is about making sure that this isn't just a one-off sugar hit for our sector. It is about making sure that we future-proof TAFE so that people will always be able to have the opportunities accessible to them. With this bill, fee-free TAFE will become a permanent part of our national vocational education and training system. This bill does three important things. Firstly, it commits the Commonwealth to make a grant of financial assistance to the states and territories for the delivery of free TAFE places, with states and territories required to enter a free TAFE agreement with the Commonwealth which sets out terms and conditions for financial assistance. This means that the states and the Commonwealth will work together to make sure that TAFE is strong and our country has enough qualified people in sectors that need workers. The bill sets out key matters that are to be dealt with in the free TAFE agreement, including the number of free TAFE places, the areas of study, the groups prioritised for access, reporting requirements and financial agreements. Finally, the bill will require the Skills and Workforce Ministerial Council to be consulted on any proposed changes to the act.

As our country grows and demand for skills increases, a strong TAFE is more important than ever. That's what we have started to build, and now it's time to protect and maintain the rate of progress that we are making. This bill ensures that free TAFE positions will be targeted to industries experiencing current and projected workforce shortages. It will be focused on areas that will achieve the national ambitions of a future made in Australia: construction and housing supply, the care and support economy, defence, digital and technology, manufacturing, and the restoring of our sovereign capability. These are all areas that we must help to thrive in order for a future Australia that will also be thriving.

There are a few key differences which really set us apart from the coalition. Our commitment to VET, to TAFE and to skills more broadly is certainly one of them. There is only one party that truly cares about TAFE, and that's us. The record shows this. The opposition's policy announcements show that this will not change after the next election. On this side of parliament, we aren't giving the bosses a taxpayer funded handout to go for lunch or to watch the footy. We're going to do things like make sure apprentices are being looked after by giving them a little bit extra in their pocket to help them get by each week.

I was an apprentice and, more recently, I managed apprentices when I managed a local engineering business. I know better than anyone that, while getting a trade is worth it in the long run, getting through your apprenticeship on lower wages can be really tough. It's really, really hard, and sometimes this can steer people away from apprenticeships. A person may start an apprenticeship and then really struggle whilst they're going through it. So we're here to help, and this was reflected in the Strategic Review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System. This is why we are responding with the housing construction apprenticeship program, which includes a $10,000 initiative payment that I'm sure will help encourage people to take up an apprenticeship and make life just that little bit easier while they're completing their apprenticeship.

Getting an apprenticeship will be easier than ever with our 500,000 fee-free TAFE places. At the end of the day, we want more Australian workers to make more things here. This can only be done if we have more people going through TAFE, more people completing apprenticeships and more tradies. When we have more tradies, we will have the workforce to deliver our Homes for Australia Plan, an ambitious target to deliver 1.2 million homes over the next five years. This is exactly what the $10,000 incentive payment will help encourage, with apprentices who work in the housing construction industry receiving $2,000 at the six-month mark into their apprenticeship and then at the 12-month mark, the two-year mark, the three-year mark and upon completion of their apprenticeship. They will receive $2,000 at every one of those marks along the way.

This payment is only one of a whole stack of changes we want to make to better look after our apprentices. We have raised the allowance paid to apprentices living away from home. This is the first time since 2003 that this has happened. A lot has changed and a lot of things have gone up in price since 2003, but apparently not this allowance. It's about time we made it up to date to better help apprentices living away from home in 2025. A first-year apprentice will be getting $120 a week for living away from home. That's a nearly $43 increase. A second-year will go up to $90 per week, which a $51.41 increase, and third-year apprentices will receive $45 per week, which is an extra $20 a week. We're also increasing the disability Australian apprentice wage support payment to support more employers taking apprentices with disability. The payment has been increased for the first time since 1998. The massive difference will make the lives of our apprentices easier. What this will do for them cannot be underestimated. This will make a huge difference.

We know that some—and by 'some' I mean 'those opposite'—think that TAFE is a waste of money. We heard that come straight out of the mouth of the deputy opposition leader. She's really not keen on it. She thinks that, if people get something for free, they don't value it and don't welcome it. But every dollar we spend on our people brings big rewards, more work, new ideas and a stronger economy. Investing in skills today means a better, tougher economy tomorrow.

As we look into the future, industries are evolving and new sectors are emerging. Free TAFE will ensure that our workforce is not only prepared for today's challenges but agile enough to meet the demands of tomorrow's economy. My advice to anyone who is thinking about entering a trade, early childhood education, nursing, aged care, personal care or disability services? Go and do it! Honestly, tradies are cool. We've built Australia. We've made Australia what it is. We need more engineers, too, but tradies make this place work. Go to TAFE, get an apprenticeship and get on with building the life, the future, the career you've always wanted. There is no better time than right now, because this government—the Labor government—is committed to making sure you have the support you need to not only get into TAFE but thrive during your apprenticeship. The opportunities that will come to you, the doors that will open, are endless.

You never know where life's going to take you. When I was an apprentice on the tools, getting dirty every day, I didn't think I'd be in this place talking up what it means to be an apprentice. So I say to anyone out there who's even thinking about doing it: just take the leap and do it. It's an amazing career. Being an apprentice, sure, you go through some tough times, but we are here to help you. Only the Albanese Labor government will help you do this. The opposition—the coalition over there—want to rip this away. They think this is wasteful spending. We'll make sure this is not wasteful spending, because we want you and your mates, all your friends who are involved in the trades and services we need, to help rebuild Australia to give us what we need into the future. Thank you to all the tradies out there now. Thank you to the early childhood educators, the nurses, the NDIS workers—anyone who works in those support areas. Thank you for all you do for our communities, our country. Without people like you we wouldn't be able to stand in a place like this, so thank you.

Go get a trade and really enjoy your life. Cheers!