AEU's response to Labor's Budget Reply 2018

The Australian Education Union welcomes the strong commitments made by the ALP in their budget reply speech to support the public TAFE system by guaranteeing a minimum 2/3 government funding to the public TAFE system. Labor's plan to restore funding to the sector, and to re-build Australia's network of campuses around the country stands in stark contrast with the Turnbull government's approach.

The ALP announcements offer hope to a whole generation of young people, and of communities who desperately need a high quality public TAFE system to support their vocational education.

The Turnbull government's budget offered nothing for the embattled TAFE system except more funding cuts. Australia's TAFE and vocational education sector is struggling under the burden of cuts, and the enduring impact of the reputational damage of the activities of voracious private for-profit providers, and the disastrous VET FEE HELP scheme.

Further cuts in the budget of more than $270m to the Skilling Australia fund will devastate the sector.

MEDIA CONTACT: BRONTE KERR, 0411 676 269