National Skills Agreement

Briskey commended the motion, arguing that the government had reversed a decade of neglect in the vocational sector through the National Skills Agreement and free TAFE. Briskey highlighted the Key Apprenticeship Program's $10,000 incentives for construction and clean energy apprentices and the introduction of a Commonwealth prac payment of $338.60 per week to support students in high-pressure fields. Briskey cited the Kangan Institute in Essendon as an example of successful transformation and emphasised that removing financial barriers was crucial for workforce participation.

Sharkie raised concerns about persistent skills shortages, noting that 29 per cent of occupations were in shortage and that construction workforce deficits were projected to peak at 300,000 by 2027. Sharkie pointed to a 29 per cent decline in trade occupation commencements and argued that small businesses faced prohibitive costs and cumbersome processes when taking on apprentices. Sharkie called for better incentives for small businesses, targeted support for older workers to remain in the workforce, and a focus on employing Australians rather than relying on immigration.

Holzberger supported the motion, contrasting the government's investment in public skills with the opposition's alleged neglect over ten years. Holzberger cited the reduction in skills shortages from 36 per cent to 29 per cent as evidence of the National Skills Agreement's success and defended free TAFE as a vital tool for economic productivity. Holzberger argued that investing in people and plant was essential for improving productive capacity, particularly in housing, care, and clean energy sectors.

Aldred highlighted barriers to education in her electorate, including lack of public transport access, childcare availability, and prohibitive costs for study materials such as textbooks. Aldred shared constituent experiences regarding insufficient financial assistance for regional students moving to Melbourne for university, noting strict means-testing thresholds for youth allowance. Aldred argued that the government failed to recognise the additional burdens faced by young people from regional communities, thereby limiting their potential.

Clutterham emphasised the importance of the National Skills Agreement in supporting critical industries such as defence, housing, and healthcare in South Australia. Clutterham noted that $135 million in policy funding had been paid to states and territories, with $225 million announced for 14 TAFE centres of excellence. Clutterham defended free TAFE, citing high enrolment numbers and the value placed on qualifications by students from disadvantaged backgrounds, arguing that these investments were essential for national security and economic prosperity.

Le argued that the National Skills Agreement overlooked the needs of small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses in his electorate, which face rising costs and compliance burdens. Le highlighted that nearly half of apprentices do not complete their training due to low wages and cost-of-living pressures, and criticised the lack of targeted, multilingual outreach for non-English speaking communities. Le called for greater support for apprentices in sectors like logistics and care, and for measures to help small businesses retain trainees.