Haines, Helen, MP

Dr HAINES (Indi) (14:19): My question is to the Minister for Education. Our future workforce needs university educated employees, particularly across aged care, health care, education and disability, and nowhere more so than in regional, rural and remote Australia. Yet rural and regional Australians obtain these qualifications at a lower-than-average rate. Forty-four per cent of Melburnians hold a bachelor's or higher degree, compared with only 11 per cent in Albury-Wodonga and eight per cent in Mildura. There is huge, untapped potential for rural and regional Australians to meet these skills shortages. The government's Napthine review provides the blueprint for doing this. Will the government commit the funding to implement the review's recommended actions?