PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Ms KARA COOK (Bonner) (17:06): Every time we flick on a light switch, move into a new home, take our car to the mechanic or drop our child off at child care, we're relying on someone's skills. But those skills don't appear overnight. They come from apprenticeships, from TAFE, from hands-on training and from people willing to learn a trade.

I know that firsthand. Growing up, I saw the dedication of vocational education every day because my mum spent more than 20 years teaching at TAFE, helping train the next generation of early childhood educators. She understood that every graduate represented something bigger than a qualification; it was another skilled worker ready to make a difference in their community.

That's why investing in vocational education isn't just investing in students; it's investing in the people who keep Australia moving. At a time when Australia needs more homes, more renewable energy, stronger manufacturing and a growing childcare workforce, investing in new skills has never been more important. That is why the Albanese Labor government has taken national leadership in rebuilding vocational education and training, working in partnerships with states and territories to deliver the skilled workforce that Australia needs.

Back home in Queensland, that partnership is backed up by $2.52 billion in Commonwealth funding being invested over the next five years, helping deliver continued growth in training opportunities and outcomes. Fee-free TAFE has been delivered to almost 135,000 Queenslanders, and the Albanese Labor government has committed $188 million in Commonwealth funding to Queensland over the next five years.

For many Queenslanders, that doesn't just mean a place in a classroom; it means real savings that make training possible. A student studying a Diploma of Nursing can save up to $15,900. Someone undertaking a Diploma of Project Management can save up to $12,100—a Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping, saving up to $4,700.

That's money staying in people's pockets while they gain the skills our economy needs. Yet, over recent weeks in Queensland, we've seen the Crisafulli government trying to create uncertainty around fee-free TAFE. The facts simply don't support that campaign.

The current agreement sees the Commonwealth contributing $85 million over three years. However, the new agreement proposes to deliver $188 million over five years, increasing the Commonwealth's annual contribution and supporting more than 106,000 fee-free TAFE places for Queenslanders. Labor wants to see more Queenslanders training, more opportunities created and more skilled workers entering the workforce.

That's exactly what we're delivering, and we are already seeing the results. More than 2,000 construction apprentices signed up through the Small Business Apprenticeship Pilot Program, helping train the workforce that will build the homes our growing communities need. In my electorate of Bonner, I see the value of vocational education every day.

Almost 19,600 people in my electorate hold a certificate III or IV qualification. They are the tradies building our homes, the educators caring for our children and the hospitality workers welcoming visitors. Their qualifications don't just create careers; they strengthen local businesses, support local families and help our local economy grow.

That means more opportunities for Australians to gain the skills they need, more workers for local businesses and a stronger workforce for the future. I saw the impact of these opportunities first-hand when I visited the Tesla workshop in my electorate with Minister Giles, where we met apprentice Zara. She's training for a career in the clean energy sector but she's also helping pave the path for others, establishing a peer support network for women undertaking apprenticeships in Tesla.

It's a reminder that investing in vocational education isn't just about fulfilling the skills shortages; it's about backing people with the talent, determination and, in Zahra's case, the leadership to shape Australia's future. That's exactly why the Albanese Labor government created the New Energy Apprenticeships Program, with eligible apprentices like Zahra receiving over $10,000 over the course of her training.

Labor is delivering for all Australians when it comes to free TAFE, apprenticeships and training and vocational education.