❓ Question regarding the Cook Labor government's investment in TAFE upgrades, specifically the Muresk Institute expansion and its impact on the agricultural industry. The Minister's answer highlights the government's commitment to vocational training and regional development.
AnsweredQoN 656Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TAFE — CAMPUS
UPGRADES — REGIONS
656. Ms A.E. KENT to the Minister for Training:
I refer to the delivery of a record
$243.3 million investment in TAFE upgrades across Western Australia by the Cook
Labor government.
(1) Can the
minister outline how this government's expansion of the Muresk
Institute in Northam will help build a pipeline of skilled workers in WA's
agricultural industry?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this expansion builds on this government's
other commitments at TAFEs in regional Western Australia?
UPGRADES — REGIONS
656. Ms A.E. KENT to the Minister for Training:
I refer to the delivery of a record
$243.3 million investment in TAFE upgrades across Western Australia by the Cook
Labor government.
(1) Can the
minister outline how this government's expansion of the Muresk
Institute in Northam will help build a pipeline of skilled workers in WA's
agricultural industry?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this expansion builds on this government's
other commitments at TAFEs in regional Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I am very pleased to be able to answer this
question because, when we look overall at our investment in vocational
training, including our investment in infrastructure in TAFE colleges, it
speaks volumes about the commitment of the
Cook Labor government to make sure that local people are skilled and able to
take on the jobs that we know are out there. Work is particularly strong in the
regions, and I am very proud of that. I know that so many regional government
members here in this chamber and in the other chamber are representing regional
areas and working very hard to respond to the needs of those regional
communities.
On infrastructure alone, the Cook
Labor government is delivering nearly one-quarter of $1 billion in capital
upgrades to TAFEs, and more than half of those upgrades to 15 campuses are in
regional Western Australia. It is really pleasing to see.
In
the just over nine months that I have been the Minister for Training, I have
been very busy. I have been able to not only conclude this
infrastructure—I do not know what the previous minister was doing
because I have been able to do all this work in just nine months! We have been
able to open world-class facilities in TAFE colleges in Broome, Roebourne,
Kununurra, Geraldton and Mandurah. It has been fantastic to see. The upgrades have been either in health, hospitality,
tourism and a maritime training vessel in Geraldton.
On Friday, I was able to join the
Premier in Northam at the Muresk Institute. We were with local member Hon
Darren West to open the $9.5 million agricultural machinery training centre at
Muresk. It is part of our $10.3-million upgrade to that facility; $9.5 million
went to the agricultural machinery training centre, and $800 000 was spent on
an industry-standard shearing shed. These are fantastic upgrades. The upgrade also delivered two state-of-the-art combine
harvester simulators and a range of other agricultural machinery options
that offer realistic farm experiences in a training environment. The Premier
and I were able to have a go on the simulators. I do not know how the Premier
went, but after having a go on that simulator, I decided that I probably need a
TAFE course to improve my skills.
It was great to see. These are state
of the art —
Mr R.H. Cook : I think Darren
is going is to hire me to work on his farm.
Ms S.F. McGURK : That is
right. If politics does not work out, the Premier can go and get a job in
agriculture!
It was fantastic to see not only the
physical infrastructure, but also the equipment that has been delivered to
Muresk. It was great to see.
What has been really significant
about these upgrades is that, as with all the other upgrades that I have
mentioned, they have been delivered in response to and in concert with local
industry to understand what they want and how we can make sure that those
upgrades are really up-to-the-minute improvements to the physical infrastructure
and the training packages that go along with them. That was certainly the case
with these upgrades. Muresk and Central Regional TAFE have worked closely with
industry in transforming the certificate III in agricultural machinery
technology to meet current industry needs. We can see that work being done for
the current training, which will mean that the trade skills for mechanical,
electrical and hydraulic operations, and precision equipment and braking
systems will all be fit for purpose for current industry.
To
top it off, local Western Australian commercial builder ACorp Construction
carried out most of the construction , and another regional Western Australian
company, GBSC Yurra, built the new shearing shed.
Before I finish, I would also like
to acknowledge the work of the late John Henchy, who was a champion of these
improvements. He called on successive governments to make these improvements to
Muresk. I am really proud that the Labor government
has listened to those calls and worked with Mr Henchy with the Farm Machinery
and Industry Association of Western Australia and worked with him in his
volunteer work. As I said, the Labor government also worked with Muresk and
industry to deliver those outcomes.
It is very sad that Mr Henchy passed
away on 13 September and was not able to make the opening, but a plaque will be
placed near the classrooms as part of the upgrade. According to my notes, the
plaque will read —
In
appreciation of Mr John Henchy, Farm Machinery and Industry Association of WA,
for his commitment to establishing
agricultural machinery training facilities at Muresk Institute, and for
championing precision agriculture and excellence in agricultural
education and training in Western Australia.
Vale, John Henchy, and thank you for
your advocacy.
question because, when we look overall at our investment in vocational
training, including our investment in infrastructure in TAFE colleges, it
speaks volumes about the commitment of the
Cook Labor government to make sure that local people are skilled and able to
take on the jobs that we know are out there. Work is particularly strong in the
regions, and I am very proud of that. I know that so many regional government
members here in this chamber and in the other chamber are representing regional
areas and working very hard to respond to the needs of those regional
communities.
On infrastructure alone, the Cook
Labor government is delivering nearly one-quarter of $1 billion in capital
upgrades to TAFEs, and more than half of those upgrades to 15 campuses are in
regional Western Australia. It is really pleasing to see.
In
the just over nine months that I have been the Minister for Training, I have
been very busy. I have been able to not only conclude this
infrastructure—I do not know what the previous minister was doing
because I have been able to do all this work in just nine months! We have been
able to open world-class facilities in TAFE colleges in Broome, Roebourne,
Kununurra, Geraldton and Mandurah. It has been fantastic to see. The upgrades have been either in health, hospitality,
tourism and a maritime training vessel in Geraldton.
On Friday, I was able to join the
Premier in Northam at the Muresk Institute. We were with local member Hon
Darren West to open the $9.5 million agricultural machinery training centre at
Muresk. It is part of our $10.3-million upgrade to that facility; $9.5 million
went to the agricultural machinery training centre, and $800 000 was spent on
an industry-standard shearing shed. These are fantastic upgrades. The upgrade also delivered two state-of-the-art combine
harvester simulators and a range of other agricultural machinery options
that offer realistic farm experiences in a training environment. The Premier
and I were able to have a go on the simulators. I do not know how the Premier
went, but after having a go on that simulator, I decided that I probably need a
TAFE course to improve my skills.
It was great to see. These are state
of the art —
Mr R.H. Cook : I think Darren
is going is to hire me to work on his farm.
Ms S.F. McGURK : That is
right. If politics does not work out, the Premier can go and get a job in
agriculture!
It was fantastic to see not only the
physical infrastructure, but also the equipment that has been delivered to
Muresk. It was great to see.
What has been really significant
about these upgrades is that, as with all the other upgrades that I have
mentioned, they have been delivered in response to and in concert with local
industry to understand what they want and how we can make sure that those
upgrades are really up-to-the-minute improvements to the physical infrastructure
and the training packages that go along with them. That was certainly the case
with these upgrades. Muresk and Central Regional TAFE have worked closely with
industry in transforming the certificate III in agricultural machinery
technology to meet current industry needs. We can see that work being done for
the current training, which will mean that the trade skills for mechanical,
electrical and hydraulic operations, and precision equipment and braking
systems will all be fit for purpose for current industry.
To
top it off, local Western Australian commercial builder ACorp Construction
carried out most of the construction , and another regional Western Australian
company, GBSC Yurra, built the new shearing shed.
Before I finish, I would also like
to acknowledge the work of the late John Henchy, who was a champion of these
improvements. He called on successive governments to make these improvements to
Muresk. I am really proud that the Labor government
has listened to those calls and worked with Mr Henchy with the Farm Machinery
and Industry Association of Western Australia and worked with him in his
volunteer work. As I said, the Labor government also worked with Muresk and
industry to deliver those outcomes.
It is very sad that Mr Henchy passed
away on 13 September and was not able to make the opening, but a plaque will be
placed near the classrooms as part of the upgrade. According to my notes, the
plaque will read —
In
appreciation of Mr John Henchy, Farm Machinery and Industry Association of WA,
for his commitment to establishing
agricultural machinery training facilities at Muresk Institute, and for
championing precision agriculture and excellence in agricultural
education and training in Western Australia.
Vale, John Henchy, and thank you for
your advocacy.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.