Press Conference, Box Hill Institute

MINISTER FOR SKILLS AND TRAINING ANDREW GILES: Okay. Good morning, everyone. It's fantastic to be here at Box Hill TAFE's City Campus in the heart of Melbourne, where it's becoming increasingly clear that the choice facing Australians at the next election is very stark. It's particularly stark for 635,000 people in Melbourne, more than 800,000 around Victoria, 3 million around the country. These are the people who will benefit from the student debt changes a re-elected Albanese government will introduce, taking 20 per cent off student loans, benefiting all these people with cost of living relief and supporting their decision to do something for themselves and something for our country in gaining qualifications that they want and which we need.

This change announced by the Prime Minister, Minister Clare and myself last Sunday will make a huge difference. It will mean five and a half thousand dollars for the average affected student. It's a huge change recognising the pressures that young people, and particularly students, are experiencing.

And it's not the only change that we are making. On Thursday, I was so proud to introduce into the Parliament the Free TAFE Bill. This bill will build on the enormous success of Fee-Free TAFE around the country, a program that in its first 18 months saw 508,000 people enrol to get important skills and to make a contribution to build Australia's future.

The shocking thing though, with Free TAFE, as with our changes to student debt, is that Peter Dutton's Liberals are turning their back. They want to shut the door of opportunity on young Australians and indeed on older Australians. They don't want to be a part of building Australia's future. At every turn their arrogance, their recklessness is holding Australia back. They've got a choice at the next election. We've got a choice that we are framing about being on the side of Australians. Have you got any questions?

ISABELLE MULLEN, JOURNALIST: Minister, it's Isabelle Mullen from Channel Seven. There are reports this morning the Coalition will look to mirror Donald Trump's strategy at the next election, focusing on inflation and the economy. Is the government worried about that?

GILES: Well, what Peter Dutton and his team do is a matter for them. We are resolutely focused on Australians each and every day. Inflation had a six in front of it when we came to office it's now got a two in front of it. Our economic management is delivering for Australians. We've turned huge Liberal debt and deficit into two Labor surpluses. Our focus will be continuing on delivering economic management that's supporting the growth of the Australian economy and cost of living relief for Australians.

CLAUDIA VRDOLJAK, JOURNALIST: Minister, it's Claudia Vrdoljak from Nine News. You've released these new figures on the savings for lower income money – lower income earners, but obviously this is, you know, extra money going into people's pockets, and aren't you concerned that that's going to push up inflation? I imagine that would be the last thing Labor would want to be doing right now if it's to take on the lessons of the US election, which ultimately, you know, came back to concerns over the handling of the economy.

GILES: Not at all. Everything that we have done through the prudent fiscal management, led by the Treasurer and the Finance Minister, has been about making sure that we're putting downward pressure on inflation, including, of course, by those two Budget surpluses. These changes will not have an inflationary impact. That's what the analysis says.

VRDOLJAK: The Daily Telegraph’s reporting that thousands of people have been issued fake diplomas from the Australian Education and Career College in childcare and child protection industries. Can you give us any details about how you got onto this, how it could have happened and what the Australian Skills Authority is doing now? Are diplomas going to be revoked? And secondly, as well, sorry, how concerned are you that it's going to add to the workforce pressures in an industry that's already struggling to get staff? I mean, this is, you know, more than 7,000 workers that may not be able to work anymore.

GILES: Yeah, let's be very clear about this. We strongly believe that people should earn their qualifications, not buy them. We have a zero tolerance for shonks who are undermining the credibility of our really important VET sector. That's why we invested more than $37 million in boosting the integrity functions of the Independent Regulator who has acted in this case. And I note that Saxon Rice, the CEO of ASQA, has made statements to Senate Estimates on this. It is incredibly important that we continue to uphold the integrity of this sector, which is so important in providing qualifications that Australians and the community rely upon.

In terms of the workforce challenge, that obviously has been an ongoing and significant issue across a range of sectors. And, of course, that's one of the reasons why we are so strongly supportive of free TAFE, which is providing so many Australians with qualifications in early childhood education and care and other aspects of the care economy.

JOURNALIST: Just touching on that, are there people without qualifications dealing with vulnerable people and children at the moment?

GILES: ASQA and the Department have been engaged with regulators and other authorities around the country to ensure that the process of the notice of cancellation is undertaken so that community safety can be upheld as an absolute priority.

JOURNALIST: Is every diploma in this college being issued – is it all under review or is it just particular sectors?

GILES: A very large number of qualifications have been the subject of the notice of cancellation procedure initiated by the Independent Regulator.

JOURNALIST: And do you know any particular factions in terms of foreign workers or students, in terms that are being reviewed with these diplomas being issued?

GILES: The business was not accredited to engage international students, but these are matters that the regulator is working through with appropriate state and other authorities. Thanks very much, everyone. Have a great day. Oh, sorry.

MULLEN: Sorry, just one more from me. It's Isabelle from Seven. Independent senators are threatening to vote down the government's misinformation bill. How does the Federal Government plan to pass it without their support?

GILES: Well, again, we have been engaged constructively with all senators on a wide range of legislation. The issues that this bill deals with are incredibly important to the health of our democracy and the health of our society. The work that Minister Rowland has done in bringing together stakeholders around a package of reforms that will make a real difference to the quality of our democracy is incredibly important. I'm hopeful that senators will recognise the significance of this to all of our community.

Thanks very much, everyone.