Peter Dutton to axe free TAFE courses if elected Prime Minister
Despite 600,000 people taking up free TAFE places since it began in January, 2023, just 100,000 people have completed courses.
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Peter Dutton will axe the free TAFE places if elected Prime Minister with a Liberal frontbencher telling voters it simply “isn’t working.”
Despite 600,000 people taking up free TAFE places since it began in January, 2023, just 100,000 people have completed courses.
The Coalition’s concerns about the scheme are far from secret - they voted against legislation to extend the scheme in the dying days of the last parliament just before the election was called.
But now a TikTok video has surfaced of Liberal frontbencher Sarah Henderson telling Geelong voters that the policy costs taxpayers too much and just “isn’t working.”
“The free TAFE policy, I am sorry. It’s just not working. I am trying to be polite,’’ she said.
“But the free TAFE policy has cost this country $1.5 billion.”
Labor campaign spokesman Jason Clare seized on the video as another example of the Liberal Party’s planned cuts.
“I am not surprised that the same party that cut $30 billion out of public schools is now promising to cut funding for TAFE,’’ he said.
“This not the only thing they will cut. As sure as night follows day, if they win the election they will cut funding to public schools as well. There is no other way Peter Dutton can pay for his $600 billion nuclear reactors.
“More and more jobs require a TAFE qualification or a uni degree.
“We need more Aussies to finish school and get the skills they need to do these jobs. That’s why this is important. Free TAFE is part of that.”
But the Coalition insists the policy is not targeted and doesn’t tackle skills shortages.
“We have consistently opposed Labor’s Free TAFE program because it is badly designed and poorly targeted,’’ a spokesman told News.com.au.
“While we don’t know how many Australians have dropped out of the Free TAFE program, we do know that just 13 per cent of courses have been completed successfully.
“Australian taxpayers have spent $1.5 billion on this Free TAFE program but ended up with fewer apprentices and trainees.
“We can do better than Labor’s Free TAFE program and under a Dutton Coalition Government we will do better.”
The Liberals and Nationals tried to block the free TAFE bill in parliament last month with Sussan Ley warning “if you don’t pay for something, you don’t value it.”
Since the Albanese Government’s Free TAFE program started in January 2023, than 6 in 10 places have been taken up by women and one in three in regional and remote Australia.
“Free TAFE opens doors and gives Australians one of the greatest opportunities they have - not just to fulfil their potential, but expand it,’’ Anthony Albanese said.
Originally published as Peter Dutton to axe free TAFE courses if elected Prime Minister
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