Release type: Speech

Date:

Address to Times Higher Education Conference

Ministers:

The Hon Andrew Giles MP
Minister for Skills and Training

Acknowledgement of Country

I want to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which we’re meeting today, the Awabakal Nation  and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

I also acknowledge any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People present today.

Introduction

I want to acknowledge Times Higher Education, the organisers of this conference, and the University of Newcastle for hosting us today.

Times Higher Education is an important voice in the higher education space, here in Australia and across the globe.

And to the University of Newcastle.

You’re the nation’s top university for Indigenous student enrolment, you are leading the way too, in terms of creating pathways for students and supporting those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Thank you all for giving me the opportunity to speak today.

Australian Universities Accord

The Australian Universities Accord is a once in a generation opportunity to reshape our tertiary and higher education systems and ensure they’re providing our young people what they need to lead a good life.

A quality education gives young people the confidence, skills, and vision to shape their own future and make the most of the opportunities our country has to offer.

In the coming decades Australia is going to need more teachers, nurses, doctors, tech workers and engineers.

Analysis by Jobs and Skills Australia shows that by 2033 nine out of 10 new jobs will require a tertiary qualification, split evenly between vocational education and training, and higher education.

That is why the Albanese Labor Government has set a tertiary education attainment target of 80 per cent. 4 in 5 people to have at least a Certificate III or equivalent by 2050.

That is why we have committed to establish an Australian Tertiary Education Commission – the ATEC – to ensure growth and equity.

We are introducing the Managed Growth Funding System for Commonwealth Supported Places to meet student demand and maintain sustainable growth.

We are reforming higher education funding systems to make it fairer and easier to access.

In particular, we want to see more students from under-represented backgrounds get an opportunity they deserve.

As a Labor Minister, this matters to me.

We want all Australians to have access to our world-class tertiary education sectors.

Supporting both VET and higher education to do even better.

Tertiary harmonisation

Growing the tertiary education system needs to be a priority for government, for industry and for our sectors.

Achieving this growth requires improved collaboration between our higher education and VET sectors.

The Albanese Labor Government recently committed $27.7 million to lay the foundations for greater tertiary harmonisation.

This includes improving the experience of students and creating pathways through better credit recognition arrangements between VET and higher education.

We are improving regulatory approaches, including for dual sector providers.

We are working with the Tertiary Education and Quality Standards Agency considering applications from TAFEs, to become self-accrediting organisations in higher education.

These measures will ensure the sector can respond quickly to emerging industry needs.

Finally, this investment will enhance tertiary data to provide better insights into how students interact with and move through the education system.

These are small but significant steps. Steps that will lay the foundations, that will enable r the ATEC to drive the growth of the tertiary education sector, meet the aspirations of our students into the future and the needs of our economy too.

Hunter and Net Zero

One clear example is here in the Hunter.

We have set a course for Net Zero.

I am under no illusions about the difficulties we face in meeting and managing the challenges presented by climate change.

For our transition to be successful, we must empower communities to come up with solutions that meet their needs.

In particular here in the Hunter, to bring together a strong history of energy generation, contribution to educational excellence, and a demonstrated ability to adapt to change.

There is work underway to build on this by investing in support services.

People need information about how to gain skills, how to get skills recognised, and how to apply for new opportunities in clean energy jobs.

We will ensure this through our Regional Workforce Transition Plans.

The Plans will be developed by the new Net Zero Economy Agency and my department, in consultation with state and local government, unions, employers, workers and communities.

To help communicate these Plans for communities, we have funded a network of Regional Workforce Transition Officers across Australia.

Grahame Irwin is the officer here in the Hunter, whose job will be to help business, industry, and communities, navigate and coordinate the transition to net zero.

Graham lives and breathes the Hunter.

He tells me his passport is stamped Newcastle as place of birth.

He’s living and working locally, supporting this region’s transformation.

He was born for his job and I am so thankful people like Graham are helping communities across Australia.

He is listening to his community and hearing about what its needs.

He brings this understanding back into the Department and Government, making sure that what we do in Canberra works for the people, businesses and communities of the Hunter.

International students

Before I speak about what the Albanese Labor Government has achieved I want to pause and talk about international education.

We need international education in Australia. It’s critical.

International education helps build institutions to teach and train the next generation of students.

It helps fund research and development right across our society and economy.

That’s why the Albanese Labor Government wants to improve the student experience, support integrity and diversity in the sector and ensure a sustainable future.

We cannot simply repeat the past. A boom-and-bust cycle of international education does not deliver long-term certainty, nor predictability.

In 2008, there was a 14 per cent increase in student visas. This was followed by three years of negative growth.

Social and economic disruption followed.

And coming out of the pandemic, some providers sought to bring as many international students as they could, challenging our social licence.

Such a cycle does not help most education providers -- who teach high quality courses, delivering qualifications businesses and communities can trust.

In VET, too many providers have focused too heavily on international students. 

Some providers have international student enrolment rates of 99 per cent.

I know no Government can manage this system through visa processing and administration alone.

It cannot work over a long period of time, which is why we need certainty.

Why we need integrity in the system.

The Nixon review found significant exploitation of the visa system by non-genuine private VET providers.

These unacceptable integrity issues undermine quality education.  

We know most providers are genuine. We know they are teaching quality education and training.

We have invested in compliance – after a decade of neglect from the Liberals.

Businesses need to be able to trust qualifications and the proliferation of poor quality undermines the entire system.

This is why the Albanese Labor Government is taking action to cap international student numbers.

This will provide certainty, and sustainability into the future.

While this is not a straightforward process the transition from an uncapped system will take ongoing engagement, this is the right thing to do. 

This will help all future governments ensure we do not again see a boom-and-bust cycle in international education.

I invite the Liberals to support our legislation.

Instead of saying no, instead of playing politics, it’s time to be constructive and pass the Bill.

The Liberals have form.

It is do as we say and ignore what we did.

Andrew Robb, the former Liberal Trade Minister, said “I don't see any reason why in 10 years we couldn't be talking 10 million students."

Former Trade Minister, now Shadow Immigration Minister, Dan Tehan, signed the Australia India Free Trade Agreement, promoting international education.

Now he cannot say a good word about it.

He often forgets he agreed to yoga teachers in the agreement – the very people the Liberals now argue against.

It is hypocritical and demonstrates how they are not fit for government.

I want to be clear - the Liberals’ half-baked migration target would end international education in Australia. That is the danger of mindless populism – of confusing a media line with a policy that serves the national interest.

We are getting on with the job.

We are committed to bringing down immigration numbers after the post-pandemic rebound – and have a considered, responsible plan to do so.

We committed to ensuring the quality, integrity and sustainability of Australia’s international education sector.

As you know the Education Services for Overseas Students Bill remains in the Senate. We are conscious of providing the sector with as much certainty as possible so we’re hopeful that that legislation will be passed as soon as possible. Once that’s happened those interim arrangements will be made permanent. I’ve been having constructive conversations with the sector and I appreciate the feedback that’s been provided so far That dialogue will be ongoing and we will continue to work with both higher education and VET providers as our new approach is introduced.

Government achievements

I would like to finish by briefly mentioning four major pieces of work delivered by the Albanese Labor Government.

Our achievements are promoting productivity.

After a decade of failure, the Albanese Labor Government struck a landmark five-year National Skills Agreement, together with the states and territories.

This agreement is increasing investment in the VET system.

As part of the National Skills Agreement, we’re providing $325 million over five years for the nationally-networked TAFE Centres of Excellence.

The centres provide a framework for national leadership, bringing together TAFE, universities, employers and unions.

Their task is to develop and implement real and practical solutions – solutions that will help meet the skills needs of this nation.

Similarly, our Jobs and Skills Councils will focus on practical solutions.

These are 10 industry-owned and led organisations.

They provide industry with a stronger role in ensuring our VET sector meets employer and learner needs.

They are tripartite, demonstrating we can work with each other despite our differences.

And finally, I would like to end on Fee-Free TAFE. This is an initiative that has smashed its targets since being introduced. I’m pleased to report that it continues to exceed expectations.

As of 30 July 2024, over 508,800 people have enrolled in free TAFE. More than 153,000 people enrolled in Fee-Free TAFE courses in the first six months of this year. That follows on from more than 355,000 enrolments in 2023 – which is more than double the 180,000 places that were originally pledged at the Jobs and Skills Summit in 2022. Since January 2023 there have been over:

  • 131,000 care sector course enrolments;
  • 48,900 technology and digital;
  • 35,500 early childhood education; and,
  • 34,900 construction sector course enrolments.

We are supporting training places in areas of high demand and skills need.

This is a cost of living measure – it is delivering now and helping students right now.

I have met students – in nursing, in childcare – who would not be studying if they had to pay thousands of dollars. One of those students was Cristy Armour who I met along with several other nurses in Loganlea in Queensland. Cristy studied a Diploma of Nursing at Tafe Queensland through Fee-Free TAFE and in her own words:

“Fee-Free TAFE is a huge help. The financial support has allowed me to focus on my studies without worrying about tuition costs…the money I've saved will go towards paying for my Bachelor of Nursing. Plus, studying for my diploma with TAFE Queensland means I’ll knock a year off my bachelor studies”

It's stories like Cristy that make me so proud to be part of the Albanese Labor Government. She’s just one example of how we’re providing cost of living relief to Australians that’s targeted in a way to promote the skills we need for the future.

Conclusion

A stronger VET sector means a stronger higher education sector. The two go together and collectively make a healthy and vibrant tertiary sector.

We have a clear plan to revitalise the VET sector to get good, secure, well-paid jobs for meaningful careers and skills, to meet the demands of employers.

This Government supports both higher education and VET.

We do not treat the sectors as a binary choice. We see them as working together to support lifelong learning and as enriching the lives of learners and students.

Both sectors are incredibly important for the future of our skilled workforce.

Both sectors are a clear priority of this government, giving all Australians the chance for a strong, prosperous future.