MOTIONS

Mr McCORMACK (Riverina) (16:46): The motion moved by the member for Holt is an interesting one, and there's a bittersweet irony to this particular motion about Commonwealth practicum payments because on one hand Labor is asking the parliament to congratulate it for giving students cost of living relief but, on the other hand, we've got four years of hardship because of the cost-of-living crisis.

Perhaps no-one feels this more than some of those students who are doing their best to go and educate themselves, to get that degree, to get that certificate. Quite frankly, it doesn't matter whether it's a tertiary or a TAFE education that they're receiving; I believe it's worth the same, because not every young student is geared to go to university. For those who go to TAFE, I say good on them, and they should, when they graduate, when they finish their course, hold that piece of paper up, because it is worth every bit as much as the university degree.

Now, the Minister for Education visited Wagga Wagga and the Charles Sturt University campus in early August, and he had productive discussions with the university and with students, and I thank him for coming. He alerted me to the fact that he was going to the university before his visit, and that's always good courtesy, and he was launching the Connected Pathways Program as a bridge between university and TAFE.

I acknowledge this initiative. I do. But what I also acknowledge is the fact that what we need to do is place veterinary students, of whom there are many at CSU Wagga Wagga, to get Commonwealth prac placements support, because many of those students are doing it tough.

Wagga Wagga has, I think, the best veterinary course in the country. Others might beg to differ, but let me assure you that that course is looking at animals from the smallest pet mice to the largest draught horses and everything in between. Those students that CSU are producing are the best of the best.

Certainly, for regional areas, we understand perhaps more than most the importance of animals—farm animals and, dare I say, racing animals. But the students are learning everything, and they're great young people, but they need support. It is not right that many of them are coming from far-flung places and just can't seem to get the rent, to get the accommodation, and they really desperately need that help.

So I've implored the minister to go back to the drawing board. It's good that he's put those other courses onto that prac placements program support, but he also needs to very much add veterinary students to it, because they're undertaking lengthy, compulsory placements. Often those are in country areas, often in rural communities, where the need for vets, as I said before, is greatest.

Veterinary students are doing the hard yards to become the vets for our farmers, our livestock producers and our regional communities. They shouldn't be forced to choose between completing their compulsory placements and, quite frankly, putting food on their own table. About 60 to 65 vet science students graduate from CSU Wagga Wagga every year, and this is a fascinating statistic—90 per cent of them are choosing to stay in a rural and regional location.

They know the work is there. They know that the opportunities are there. They know that they can make money there, but they desperately need help at that time of compulsory placement, and the government can do that.

They can do that with a click of a finger, with a signing of a pen, and it's up to the minister to do just that, because our veterinary students need that support. But don't just take it from me. Final-year CSU veterinary student Hannah Chick said studying in a rural area came with additional financial and logistical challenges, particularly when it came to completing compulsory placements.

Her words were compelling. I implore the minister to look at not just student Hannah Chick but all of her cohort and many others in the future who will decide that veterinary is for them but may turn against it if they cannot support themselves financially. The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Fernando ): I understand the member for Pearce would like to present a copy of her speech for incorporation into Hansard, in accordance with the resolution agreed to on 6 November 2025.