Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2026-2027

Mr LIM (Tangney) (12:31): Dignity through employment is an important belief of our government. We want a future for Australia where no-one is held back and no-one is left behind. More than 1.2 million jobs have been created since the Albanese Labor government came to office.

We are closing the gender pay gap, which stands at a record low of 11.5 per cent. Our same job, same pay reforms have benefited more than 8,000 workers, including workers in Tangney, one who told me how she is benefiting with a pay rise of several thousand dollars a year. In this year's budget, we are working to strengthen employment services with important reforms to the employment services system.

Despite historically low employment, around one in five Workforce Australia participants have been in the system for five years or longer. This is a higher proportion than a decade ago. Currently, employment services treat everyone the same regardless of their differences in skills or experience or the barriers they face.

This new proposed reform changes this approach by introducing three service streams and offering (1) digital services with individualistic resources and brief interventions, (2) high-quality, targeted, provider led support for those who need to build skills and confidence and (3) intensive services for people facing complex barriers. The reforms are backed by a $312 million investment in the recent budget, including more than $205 million to build the digital new digital service and more than $52 million to test and refine the intensive service in the early, targeted rollout.

This reform requires significant design detail underneath the overarching framework. I look forward to working in my community on these reforms and ensuring my electorate has the opportunity to contribute to a better working future for Australians where no-one is held back and no-one is left behind. I recently had the opportunity to meet with Training Alliance Group, an employment services community program and vocational training provider who is active in my electorate of Tangney.

They shared with me the work that they do in my electorate, including having supported 227 Tangney residents across government funded programs in employment services, disability employment, parenting pathways and accredited vocational training. I want to acknowledge their work in my electorate. I will value their input into these reforms.

Tangney is home to many migrants. I have heard firsthand from many constituents, who have shared with me their frustration, about the barriers they face when trying to have their qualifications and experiences recognised in Australia. They wish to find work that reflects their skills and expertise so they can build a better life for their family and contribute further to our community.

But, unfortunately, this barrier in the system can be difficult and frustrating to navigate and can lead to skilled migrants not being able to work in their field of skills, knowledge and expertise. Our government is working to improve and speed up skills recognition because we recognise that many migrants already have the qualifications and professional experiences that can help us in a variety of ways, from building homes to supporting essential services.

We are working to expand trade skill recognition pathways, strengthen oversight of skill assessment processes and modernise ICT systems so we can unlock their potential sooner. The Albanese Labor government is focusing on backing Australians to get the skills they want for the jobs we need for our country.