Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026

Mr BUCHHOLZ (Wright) (12:27): It's always a privilege to make a contribution on the consideration in detail process. Traditionally, I would come and make a contribution, the other side would be adorned with the coinciding ministers, and we would ask a series of questions. On an issue as important as workplace relations, skills and training, you would think the minister would have put in an appearance.

Geographically, his office is closer to this chamber than mine—but nothing! There is nothing from that on the other side. But guess what?

These cameras here are broadcasting right around the country— An honourable member interjecting— Mr BUCHHOLZ: Keep up, cowboy. That's not the part of the thing that we're up to. We're on workplace relations and skills at the moment.

It's the second speaker. Minister Giles should be here. The sector has asked me to ask questions, and I have those questions.

Minister, this is the time when you answer the questions that the skills and training sector need to have answers to. We both want to see young Australians employed. We both want to see apprentice numbers improved.

We are joined at the hip with our motivation in wanting to get those outcomes. He is doing his best, but I want to work more closely with the minister to ensure that we get outcomes better than what Labor are producing at the moment. When we left government, the NCVER stated that there were 428,000 apprentices in the system.

Today, there are 100,000 fewer. What's gone wrong? We need those apprentices.

We need those apprentices to build the houses of the future that need to be built. We need those apprentices to build the industries that we need to thrive. We need those apprentices to build the pipeline of work that's coming.

There are 100,000 fewer apprentices and trainees. There are 100,000 fewer plumbers, chippies, electricians, roofers, plasterers, glaziers—all skills we need to build the infrastructure of the future. With the pipeline of infrastructure our country needs, particularly in my state of Queensland, given we've won the Olympic Games and the infrastructure that's needed to host them, we need to be training those apprentices now so that they are job-ready for the task ahead.

It's interesting to contrast the completion rates of the pay system against the private registered training organisations. Under Labor's watch, the TAFE completions are less than satisfactory. When you aggregate certificates I, II, III, IV and the diploma levels that the TAFE system provides, and then aggregate their completion rates, they're at around 40 per cent.

And they command 70 per cent of the funding. Leave it to the private sector and the registered training organisations. They're well ahead with a completion rate of around 50 per cent.

My question to the minister is: why don't we give more equity, more money, to those we get a greater benefit from as a government? Employers right across the country, from builders and tradies to healthcare and aged-care providers, are saying the same thing. They can't get the workers they need.

It's not just the sector saying it; it's the Business Council and the peaks bodies saying that there are not enough people in the system. This government has its priorities wrong. Apprenticeships and trainee commencements have fallen sharply under this government, meaning fewer young Australians start the training needed to fill the jobs required in the future.

Employers are being left without the required staff, projects are being delayed and opportunities are slipping through Australian fingers. It's not just an inconvenience for business; it's a drag on the economy. If you want to have a close look at why your productivity numbers are in the toilet, this is a great place to start, Labor.

I have some questions for the minister. There are over 100,000 fewer apprentices in the system. Why?

Minister, how can Labor claim to be rebuilding the workplace and the workforce when industries like construction and aged care are facing record shortages of skilled workers? Minister, before the election, Labor promised to rebuild the skills pipeline and you have failed to do so. Minister, you've spent over $1.5 billion on fee-free TAFE.

Why has that funding not produced more apprentices and trainees today than what we had when we left office? Minister, why hasn't Labor properly managed the targeted fee-free TAFE in areas like plumbing, mechanics and electrical trades where the skill shortages are most acute? A large scale of TAFE students are not completing— (Time expired)