❓ The Minister for Training responds to questions regarding the Cook Labor government's investment in TAFE expansions, highlighting fee reductions, infrastructure upgrades, and positive outcomes for students, while contrasting this with the previous Liberal-National government's record.
AnsweredQoN 424Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TAFE
— INFRASTRUCTURE
424. Ms D.G. D'ANNA to the Minister for Training:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's commitment to
delivering world-class training facilities, giving local people the skills they
need to get local jobs.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on how this government's investment in TAFE
expansions across the state, including in Broome, are benefiting local students
and their communities?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house how this government's investment in TAFE
compares with that of the former Liberal–National government?
— INFRASTRUCTURE
424. Ms D.G. D'ANNA to the Minister for Training:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's commitment to
delivering world-class training facilities, giving local people the skills they
need to get local jobs.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on how this government's investment in TAFE
expansions across the state, including in Broome, are benefiting local students
and their communities?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house how this government's investment in TAFE
compares with that of the former Liberal–National government?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
Let us be clear: the Cook Labor government is helping Western Australian people
get Western Australian jobs. We are ensuring that every Western Australian has
access to world-class training no matter where they live. It is funny that the
member for Kimberley asked what the Liberal–Nationals' record
is in terms of investment in TAFE. I would be glad to shed some light on that
because the reality is that it was dismal. Between 2013 and 2017, the coalition
government increased fees fivefold—500 per cent—and annual
student enrolments fell by 25 000. I repeat: annual student enrolments fell by
25 000. These fee hikes put TAFE out of reach of ordinary Western Australians.
When we went to the election in 2017, we committed to fixing that, and fast.
After we were elected, we immediately froze TAFE fees so students had cost certainty, but we did not stop there. We slashed
fees by up 72 per cent for 210 courses in priority industries . Now, in
addition to our Free in '23 list and keeping fees affordable generally,
we are delivering a record $243 million in capital infrastructure upgrades
across the state. That is almost a quarter of a billion dollars into TAFE
buildings and equipment. It is fantastic to see. This is the biggest TAFE
capital works program in our state's history. Critically, over half of
these 15 projects are in regional Western Australia.
On
Friday, I had the pleasure of joining the Premier and the hardworking local
members David Templeman , Lisa Munday and Robyn Clarke to open the $17 million
hospitality and tourism training centre at TAFE's Mandurah campus. It
is an amazing upgrade, which includes a state-of-the-art restaurant called
Saltbush, where locals can get a three-course meal for $35 by the way, as well
as a state-of-the-art hair and beauty salon next door. Perhaps they could
combine those outings.
Mr D.A. Templeman : Could take
some time for me!
Ms S.F. McGURK : That is
right; it could, member.
I spoke to a large group of students
staffing the restaurant that day. They were in their last week of studying
their cert III. I asked them what their
plans were when they finish their study. I am pleased to say that every single
one of those students said they had jobs in the industry in which they
were training.
Similarly, as the member for
Kimberley is aware, I visited Broome and Roebourne just a few weeks ago. I visited
the Minurmarghali Mia campus in Broome. That is a $12 million upgrade designed
by local Ngarluma architects and constructed by local building firm H&M
Tracey. It is never hard to find an excuse to visit beautiful Broome, but I was
blown away by the upgrades to TAFE's Broome campus. Similarly, those
upgrades include a fantastic hospitality training centre as well as hair and
beauty facilities. Both of those facilities will feed into supporting Broome's
hospitality and tourism industries.
That day I also went to Roebourne
with the member for Pilbara, Kevin Michel, and visited the $8 million upgraded Roebourne campus. Connecting the local Aboriginal
community to vocational education and training, those upgrades include
four new classrooms, which will be used across a range of industries, including
IT and art; a new industry workshop for construction trades training; and an
upgrade to existing light automotive facilities. The architect, Iredale
Pedersen Hook, designed culturally appropriate facilities and worked with the
local community extensively during the planning upgrades. This consultation
meant that there is a community focus facility that the community has some
ownership of, including outdoor learning spaces and male and female student
hubs. WA construction company Devlyn Construction employed over 200 workers
throughout construction of all that work, including apprentices and trainees.
This government backs TAFE because
TAFE backs our economy and our local communities. We are reducing barriers to
training, we are upgrading facilities and we are supporting everyone to access
world-class training, and it is working. Apprentice and trainee commencements
are now at their highest levels in 10 years, and completions are booming as
well. The Cook Labor government is committed to delivering world-class training
to every Western Australian. I am proud of the work we are doing.
Let us be clear: the Cook Labor government is helping Western Australian people
get Western Australian jobs. We are ensuring that every Western Australian has
access to world-class training no matter where they live. It is funny that the
member for Kimberley asked what the Liberal–Nationals' record
is in terms of investment in TAFE. I would be glad to shed some light on that
because the reality is that it was dismal. Between 2013 and 2017, the coalition
government increased fees fivefold—500 per cent—and annual
student enrolments fell by 25 000. I repeat: annual student enrolments fell by
25 000. These fee hikes put TAFE out of reach of ordinary Western Australians.
When we went to the election in 2017, we committed to fixing that, and fast.
After we were elected, we immediately froze TAFE fees so students had cost certainty, but we did not stop there. We slashed
fees by up 72 per cent for 210 courses in priority industries . Now, in
addition to our Free in '23 list and keeping fees affordable generally,
we are delivering a record $243 million in capital infrastructure upgrades
across the state. That is almost a quarter of a billion dollars into TAFE
buildings and equipment. It is fantastic to see. This is the biggest TAFE
capital works program in our state's history. Critically, over half of
these 15 projects are in regional Western Australia.
On
Friday, I had the pleasure of joining the Premier and the hardworking local
members David Templeman , Lisa Munday and Robyn Clarke to open the $17 million
hospitality and tourism training centre at TAFE's Mandurah campus. It
is an amazing upgrade, which includes a state-of-the-art restaurant called
Saltbush, where locals can get a three-course meal for $35 by the way, as well
as a state-of-the-art hair and beauty salon next door. Perhaps they could
combine those outings.
Mr D.A. Templeman : Could take
some time for me!
Ms S.F. McGURK : That is
right; it could, member.
I spoke to a large group of students
staffing the restaurant that day. They were in their last week of studying
their cert III. I asked them what their
plans were when they finish their study. I am pleased to say that every single
one of those students said they had jobs in the industry in which they
were training.
Similarly, as the member for
Kimberley is aware, I visited Broome and Roebourne just a few weeks ago. I visited
the Minurmarghali Mia campus in Broome. That is a $12 million upgrade designed
by local Ngarluma architects and constructed by local building firm H&M
Tracey. It is never hard to find an excuse to visit beautiful Broome, but I was
blown away by the upgrades to TAFE's Broome campus. Similarly, those
upgrades include a fantastic hospitality training centre as well as hair and
beauty facilities. Both of those facilities will feed into supporting Broome's
hospitality and tourism industries.
That day I also went to Roebourne
with the member for Pilbara, Kevin Michel, and visited the $8 million upgraded Roebourne campus. Connecting the local Aboriginal
community to vocational education and training, those upgrades include
four new classrooms, which will be used across a range of industries, including
IT and art; a new industry workshop for construction trades training; and an
upgrade to existing light automotive facilities. The architect, Iredale
Pedersen Hook, designed culturally appropriate facilities and worked with the
local community extensively during the planning upgrades. This consultation
meant that there is a community focus facility that the community has some
ownership of, including outdoor learning spaces and male and female student
hubs. WA construction company Devlyn Construction employed over 200 workers
throughout construction of all that work, including apprentices and trainees.
This government backs TAFE because
TAFE backs our economy and our local communities. We are reducing barriers to
training, we are upgrading facilities and we are supporting everyone to access
world-class training, and it is working. Apprentice and trainee commencements
are now at their highest levels in 10 years, and completions are booming as
well. The Cook Labor government is committed to delivering world-class training
to every Western Australian. I am proud of the work we are doing.
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