Ms LEY (Farrer—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (09:08): It's an honour to rise today in the parliament to talk about TAFE and vocational education on National TAFE Day. Today we reflect on the role that skills play in our society and we recognise the value that TAFE provides our nation. I also want to recognise the TAFE educators in the gallery today and thank them for their efforts to help train the next generation of Australians. TAFE will always be a key feature of our vocational education system. I also want to acknowledge the minister, whose commitment to TAFE is clear for all to see. While we trade barbs over skills policy, I share his genuine commitment to ensuring TAFE remains a strong part of the skills system. I have undertaken training through Australia's vocational education system. I'm a product of that system. My training aided my career as a pilot and as a shearer's cook. Whilst the minister has not gone through that system, I know he shares my passion. When I was finishing school my parents were pretty clear with me that, as far as they were concerned, the only path worth taking was to go to university. But I had my own aspirations and my own plan, and I first chose to pursue a vocation, not a degree. When I graduated school, I could think of nothing worse than sitting in an office or in a lecture hall—I wanted to fly. So I enrolled in the local training organisation here in Canberra and learnt to fly. It was not easy, and I had to work at it. But, like all skills development, with time and effort, I passed my course and I got my qualification. Sadly, because I was a woman, I wasn't ever afforded the opportunity to fly passenger jets, so I found a way to live my dreams through being an aerial-stock-mustering pilot in western Queensland. So skills policy is personal for me. I know what it's like to struggle and grapple with the demands of vocational education. Like so many in this place and in the gallery, I understand the importance of the trades and training. Indeed, I'm sure all of us understand the value that vocational education has in people realising their aspirations. We can all think of an example of how we felt when we saw that young person graduate from that course or land their first apprenticeship. We can all think of that moment when we saw someone's eyes light up when they got that circuit to work or when they got a finish just right. These sorts of moments are what happens in our TAFEs and in our training organisations. I know what it's like to be supported to learn the skills you need to live out your dreams, and I know firsthand how passionate the trainers in our VET system are; we all do. Today I'm happy to recognise the contribution our TAFEs make and to recognise those who work at TAFE and those who go to TAFE. For our part, I can say, on this side of the chamber, we are 100 per cent committed to the skills system and committed to TAFE as part of that. That's why, when we were in government, we put record amounts of funding into TAFE. Today is an opportunity to recognise TAFE, but it's also an important opportunity to continue the work we all need to be part of—elevating the status of vocational education in Australia. This is critical, because we must reject the idea that vocational education is a second-best choice. A vocational qualification is not second best. Going to university is not the be all and end all, and it certainly does not guarantee you a better, more secure job in this new era of artificial intelligence. Here's a quote: For too long, success for young Australians has been equated to finishing year 12 and obtaining a university degree. … … … As a country, we pay a significant economic and social cost for this attitude. Of all the students who go into university this year, one third will not finish their university studies. Yet we face critical skill shortages in the trades, including in building and construction, metals, manufacturing and automotive. This quote is not my words. They're the words of the Howard government, some two decades ago in 2004. This problem is not new, and we are yet to get it right. In recognising our VET system, we also recognise that Australia is a nation built by the tradies. It is a nation cared for by the childcare workers and the nurses. In fact, Australia is a nation defined by prosperity won, in large part, through the skills of our people, and those skills are developed and perfected in our TAFEs, in our training providers and on our work sites. While many of us in this place recognise the value of vocational education, we need to back that commitment up with action that demonstrates to the next generation that a skilled career is worthy and valued. I have to say, I was disappointed that one of the first actions the new government took in skills was to rip skills policy out of the Department of Education and put it in the department of workplace relations. Instead of trying to bring universities and vocational education closer together, this government pulled them further apart. And how you structure the bureaucracy has real consequences. As we also rightly recognise the role TAFE plays in our skills system, we also have to be honest and have a frank recognition that the rate of completions across our TAFEs is not where it needs to be. The minister has repeatedly touted the fast rollout of fee-free TAFE places and that enrolments had reached over 200,000 in the first six months. Sadly, the reality is that, on the current trend, one in two of those who take up these opportunities will not complete their qualification. So the government can highlight the take-up of these new courses, but, unless we get these students through their courses, they will not see the benefit of a new career, and our economy will miss out on them joining our workforce. Given not all training providers or training approaches see such low completions, a TAFE-only approach is wasteful. I'm sure the minister would agree with me in saying that these sorts of completion rates are not acceptable. Having said that, we will always support the role of TAFE, and we want to see TAFEs being stronger and delivering better outcomes. But we will only get there if we ask the hard questions and face up to the reality of the challenges in our skills system. So today we mark National TAFE Day, and we thank everyone across our TAFEs for what they do. To our TAFEs, my door is always open. I'm always up for seeing your training facilities and approaches firsthand. Indeed, I have seen many in the last few months. I will always stand ready to work constructively with every corner of the skills sector to ensure we get the policy settings right so we get the best outcomes for students and for the national economy.