Thursday, 7 March 2024

Vocational education and training

Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:03): (454) My question is to the Minister for Skills and TAFE. I refer the minister to the recent Productivity Commission Report on Government Services, which shows that Victoria is the lowest funded state for vocational education and training. Historic data shows Victoria has been the lowest funded state for a decade, except for one year during the pandemic when it was second lowest. Minister, is this what your government means when it refers to ‘saving TAFE’?

Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Regional Development) (12:04): I thank the member for his question, and I do find it really interesting that they have a play on words with ‘saving TAFE’ given that they shut down 22 campuses and they sacked over 2000 workers and TAFEs were just hanging in there – it was just a matter of flicking the switch off. It was our government that was elected, and we were elected on a saving TAFE platform, which we have been able to do. Not only have we saved TAFE, we have rebuilt TAFE and we have rebuilt the whole vocational education and training system. Four billion dollars has been invested into the Victorian skills and training system, and we have seen Victorians save something like $436 million in tuition fees. So there is a lot that we are proud of, complete with a determination to ensure that there is an alignment between what is delivered and the jobs that are out there in the labour market. That is exactly what we are doing, and that is exactly what we saw at William Angliss Institute this morning with the Premier.

The fact of the matter is that the ROGS data showed Victorian growth in VET expenditure per hour had outpaced the national average since 2014. The real recurrent expenditure increase from 2014 to 2022 for Victoria went from $11.65 to $17.19; that is a 48 per cent increase. During the same period the national average only increased by 27 per cent – that is, $16.39 to $20.86 per hour. Since 2014, as I have said, this Victorian government has invested over $4 billion in our TAFE system. That has been not just in terms of free TAFE, it has also been in the whole Skills First contract system, not to mention the capital works that we have invested in. You only have to go down to Collingwood and see that fantastic facility being built, which will be opened shortly. Member Sheena Watt will be with me shortly with respect to that. There is a fantastic new facility at Broadmeadows, three storeys high, which will complement the health and allied health courses that need to be delivered, particularly for our local Broadmeadows multicultural community. We have also built brand new campuses at Morwell and Sale. We have also undertaken massive refurbishments right across the state.

Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:07): Minister, does the government plan to increase its vocational education and training funding at all or at least in line with other states?

Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Regional Development) (12:07): I believe I have answered that question, because the supplementary is exactly the same as the substantive question. We have a proud record in terms of our investments in skills and training in this state. This is something that those opposite will never be able to attest to, because they have no interest in vocational education and training and they certainly do not have any interest in public provision or indeed TAFE.

Evan Mulholland: On a point of order, President, on relevance, it was a very simple question asking if the government would increase funding in line with other states.

Harriet Shing: On the point of order, Mr Mulholland, the very first sentence that the minister made in her response to the supplementary question was ‘I believe that I have answered that question in my answer to the substantive question.’ In addition to that, ministers cannot be compelled as to how they answer a question. It is in the standing orders.

Melina Bath: On a point of order, President, Minister Shing is debating. It is not a point of order.

The PRESIDENT: I will respond to the original point of order. I believe the minister has been relevant to the question she was asked. It is not for the Presiding Officer to make the minister answer in a way that will make the person asking the question happy.