❓ Ms. Winton asks the Premier how investment in TAFE will ensure more Western Australians can access skills and training. The Premier outlines fee reductions and capital works investments aimed at boosting training and job opportunities.
AnsweredQoN 887Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
STATE ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN — TAFE
887. Ms S.E. WINTON to the Premier:
Before I ask my question, on behalf
of the member for Southern River I would like to welcome students from
Ashburton Drive Primary School to Parliament today.
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to driving WA's economic recovery by
supporting local jobs through its record investment in TAFE and training. Can
the Premier outline to the house how this investment will ensure that more Western
Australians can access the skills and training they need to enter the
workforce?
STATE ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN — TAFE
887. Ms S.E. WINTON to the Premier:
Before I ask my question, on behalf
of the member for Southern River I would like to welcome students from
Ashburton Drive Primary School to Parliament today.
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to driving WA's economic recovery by
supporting local jobs through its record investment in TAFE and training. Can
the Premier outline to the house how this investment will ensure that more Western
Australians can access the skills and training they need to enter the
workforce?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Wanneroo for
the question. Western Australian jobs have been our number one priority. Over
the course of this year we have been very focused on ensuring that we keep Western
Australia not only safe but also strong. The government has put unprecedented
investment into TAFEs and training. When we came into office, we froze TAFE
fees across the board. During the term of the last government, TAFE fees had
undergone massive increases—over 500
per cent for many, many courses—across the board. When we came to
office, we froze TAFE fees. More recently—last year—we
managed to slash TAFE fees for 34 high-priority qualifications. Then, more
recently, as part of our recovery plan, the fees for another 39 high-priority
courses were slashed by up to 72 per cent.
More recently—two weeks ago—we followed up with a massive
reduction in fees for another 107 TAFE courses. The stage government has
made the last lot of cuts to fees in conjunction with the commonwealth
government; that is a $103.4 million investment. The 107 TAFE courses that now
have reduced fees will deliver training in
sectors, including building and construction, manufacturing, mining,
engineering, aquaculture, agriculture , horticulture, information
technology and logistics. The fee reductions that we put in place in
conjunction with the commonwealth will come in on 1 January 2021.
That
means we are driving more opportunities for Western Australians to get trained
in courses for which there are jobs in Western Australia. We have seen an
incredibly strong take-up of courses across the state. The enrolments in many
courses have increased by 20 per cent—in fact, it is higher in some
courses. Some courses, particularly those that will get people back into the
workforce, are completely free. This is an important initiative for training.
On
top that, the government has put $229 million into TAFE capital works across
the state. TAFE colleges are old. In particular, workshops across the state that are
not in the best condition will undergo massive improvements. I have been out and visited a number of them. In Kalgoorlie,
for instance, there have been some amazing upgrades as part of this.
Obviously,
that is a big change from what happened during the course of the last
government, when TAFE fees were put up massively. During the last government,
fees for an Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying went up by 787 per cent;
fees for a certificate IV in fitness—Mr Speaker, I know you are
interested in that—had a 470 per cent increase; and a course in
education support had a 387 per cent increase in fees. Fees to undertake a Diploma
of Civil and Structural Engineering went up by 290 per cent, while fees for an
Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management went up by 284 per cent. There are
so many examples out there of fees that just went through the roof. Enrolments
dropped and Western Australians were not being trained for the jobs that are
out there in this state.
This government will continue to
train Western Australians and provide the best TAFE opportunities of anywhere
in the country. We are ensuring that Western Australians can take advantage of
the jobs that are available in Western Australia.
the question. Western Australian jobs have been our number one priority. Over
the course of this year we have been very focused on ensuring that we keep Western
Australia not only safe but also strong. The government has put unprecedented
investment into TAFEs and training. When we came into office, we froze TAFE
fees across the board. During the term of the last government, TAFE fees had
undergone massive increases—over 500
per cent for many, many courses—across the board. When we came to
office, we froze TAFE fees. More recently—last year—we
managed to slash TAFE fees for 34 high-priority qualifications. Then, more
recently, as part of our recovery plan, the fees for another 39 high-priority
courses were slashed by up to 72 per cent.
More recently—two weeks ago—we followed up with a massive
reduction in fees for another 107 TAFE courses. The stage government has
made the last lot of cuts to fees in conjunction with the commonwealth
government; that is a $103.4 million investment. The 107 TAFE courses that now
have reduced fees will deliver training in
sectors, including building and construction, manufacturing, mining,
engineering, aquaculture, agriculture , horticulture, information
technology and logistics. The fee reductions that we put in place in
conjunction with the commonwealth will come in on 1 January 2021.
That
means we are driving more opportunities for Western Australians to get trained
in courses for which there are jobs in Western Australia. We have seen an
incredibly strong take-up of courses across the state. The enrolments in many
courses have increased by 20 per cent—in fact, it is higher in some
courses. Some courses, particularly those that will get people back into the
workforce, are completely free. This is an important initiative for training.
On
top that, the government has put $229 million into TAFE capital works across
the state. TAFE colleges are old. In particular, workshops across the state that are
not in the best condition will undergo massive improvements. I have been out and visited a number of them. In Kalgoorlie,
for instance, there have been some amazing upgrades as part of this.
Obviously,
that is a big change from what happened during the course of the last
government, when TAFE fees were put up massively. During the last government,
fees for an Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying went up by 787 per cent;
fees for a certificate IV in fitness—Mr Speaker, I know you are
interested in that—had a 470 per cent increase; and a course in
education support had a 387 per cent increase in fees. Fees to undertake a Diploma
of Civil and Structural Engineering went up by 290 per cent, while fees for an
Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management went up by 284 per cent. There are
so many examples out there of fees that just went through the roof. Enrolments
dropped and Western Australians were not being trained for the jobs that are
out there in this state.
This government will continue to
train Western Australians and provide the best TAFE opportunities of anywhere
in the country. We are ensuring that Western Australians can take advantage of
the jobs that are available in Western Australia.
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