Labor's election pledge to make Free TAFE permanent does not have the support of those closest to the skills crisis.
Labor's election pledge to make Free TAFE permanent does not have the support of those closest to the skills crisis.
Australia’s builders have joined the business community to call for Labor to halt its Free TAFE Bill which seeks to legislate Anthony Albanese’s key skills policy for the coming Federal Election – making Free TAFE permanent.
Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn has said:
“Free TAFE initiatives unfairly distort the market towards TAFE-delivered courses over industry-led providers.”
“We have not seen the free TAFE policy bring more people into building and construction apprenticeships; rather, it has simply reshuffled the deck.”
“The proposed Bill is anti-competitive and creates a market distortion and should not be committed to legislation.”
The Housing Industry Association has called for Labor to halt its Free TAFE Bill:
“The Housing Industry Association is urging the government to hit pause on the proposed Free TAFE Bill 2024.”
“During the time that the Fee-free TAFE scheme has been operating the number of apprentices and trainees in the construction industry has declined. It doesn’t appear that the scheme is doing enough to boost participation.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made Free TAFE the foundation of his election skills platform and daily claims it has been an “overwhelming success”. Those claims have been refuted by business and construction groups.
The Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Skills and Training, Sussan Ley said Australia’s building and construction sector is now against Labor’s Free TAFE policy.
“I again urge Anthony Albanese and Skills Minister Andrew Giles to listen to those closest to the skills crisis and shelve their efforts to legislate this failing program.
“Australians rightly expect their tax dollars to be spent on programs that work, and Australia’s construction sector is clearly saying there is no evidence to suggest the Free TAFE program is actually delivering.
“Labor’s only proof point for Free TAFE is how many students they have got through the front door and they have repeatedly refused to say how many drop outs there have been. How can Labor permanently legislate a program without any evidence it has delivered better outcomes?
“What we do know is despite Anthony Albanese spending over $1.5 billion on Free TAFE to date we have seen apprentice and trainees numbers drop by 80,000 and skills shortages have worsened.”
The view from Australia’s business community is Free TAFE could be seeing completion rates of around 30 per cent. Official data shows completions are even lower at 13 per cent.
With the construction sector joining both big and small business in calling for Labor to shelve its Free TAFE Bill, how can Anthony Albanese seriously be contemplating pushing this legislation through before the election?