Off the back of the savage TAFE cuts in the NSW budget, the Greens are calling on the Abbott government and the Labor opposition to agree to rewrite COAG agreements so TAFE can again be a well-resourced public vocational education and training provider.

"News that NSW TAFE numbers have plummeted in the past three years, a trend occurring around the country, highlights the need for the federal government to urgently change the federal rules TAFE operates under," Greens technical and higher education spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said.

11 December 2013

The Australian Senate today passed a Greens motion moved by higher education spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon to establish an inquiry into TAFE operations, accessibility and public funding. The inquiry will pick up where the former House of Representatives inquiry, dissolved as a result of the calling of the election, left off.

Greens deputy leader Adam Bandt and Greens higher education spokesperson Lee Rhiannon today announced a rescue package of $1.2 billion to revitalise TAFE, and called on the federal government to overhaul the current VET funding arrangements that have directed billions of dollars to private training providers ahead of TAFEs.

The Australian Greens have announced a $1.2 billion TAFE rescue package to prioritise federal spending on revitalising the TAFE system to build Australia's skills future.  The Greens are calling on the federal government to overhaul the current VET funding arrangements that have directed billions of dollars to private training providers ahead of TAFEs.

Economics Committee

Estimates hearings 17 October 2012

• Senator RHIANNON
• Senator Chris Evans

 Full transcript available here

Motions, Tuesday 9 October 2012

That the Senate—

The Gillard government must ensure that the failures in the Victorian experience of privatising vocational education and training (VET) are not repeated in other states, said Green Senator and higher education spokesperson Lee Rhiannon, following reports today of a $500 million training budget blowout in Victoria (AFR, 2/7/12, Gillard's training reform hit by budget blowout).

"The Gillard government has been in the driving seat of the push to privatise vocational education and cannot now wash their hands of the problems in the Victorian sector", said Senator Rhiannon.

Federal funding for training is in need of major reform to address skills shortages in Western Australia, WA Senator Scott Ludlam said today.

Research released this week by Pit Crew Management Consulting Services showed Western Australia's workforce will be able to meet only half the demand for ten key trades next year. Senator Ludlam said the three billion dollar investment over six years announced by Labor in the 2011-12 Federal Budget needs better planning to fill the gaps.