Month: October 2023

Last night’s National Cabinet agreed to unlock billions of dollars to build Australian skills and prosperity.

The landmark five-year National Skills Agreement (NSA), which will take effect from January next year, was developed under principles agreed by National Cabinet and will embed national cooperation and strategic investment in our vocational education and training sector.

The Albanese Government is prepared to invest $12.6 billion to expand and transform access to the VET sector, support quality training and implement reforms to address critical skills needs. If States and Territories access all the Commonwealth funding available under the NSA, the combined investment by governments would exceed $30 billion.

In an historic first, a new National Stewardship model will coordinate strategic investment in skills across the economy, and support delivery of skills needed in national priority areas, as well as providing States and Territories with flexibility to meet local industry skills needs.

The agreement places TAFE at the heart of the VET sector, with TAFEs to be supported by baseline funding commitments.

Major reforms will include the establishment of nationally networked TAFE Centres of Excellence involving partnerships between TAFEs, universities, Jobs and Skills Councils and industry.

The $12.6 billion investment by the Commonwealth includes an extra $2.4 billion in flexible funding to support State and Territory skills sectors with capacity to deliver skills for critical and emerging industries. Priorities include:

• Clean energy and Net Zero transformation of the economy.
• Australia’s sovereign capability, including advanced manufacturing skills, national security, food security and construction.
• Care and support services.
• Ensuring Australia’s digital and technology capability.

There is up to an additional $1.3 billion of Commonwealth funding to implement agreed reforms including:

• $325 million to establish nationally networked TAFE Centres of Excellence and strengthen collaboration between TAFEs, universities and industry.
• $100 million to support, grow and retain a quality VET workforce.
• $155 million to establish a National TAFE leadership Network to promote cutting edge curriculum.
• $214 million for Closing the Gap initiatives to be designed in partnership with First Nations peoples and led by them.
• $250 million to improve VET completions including women and others who face completion challenges.
• $142 million to improve foundation skills training capacity, quality and accessibility.
• $116 million to improve VET evidence and data.

This new investment is on top of $414 million already committed for the delivery of 300,000 Fee-Free TAFE places from 2024.

The Albanese Government values and supports TAFE and Australians getting the skills the country needs. The previous Government was defined by nearly a decade of dysfunction and mismanagement, and nowhere was this more evident than in the VET sector.

In a significant shift away from the short-term, transactional working relationships of the past decade, a new National Stewardship approach on skills will provide a framework for cooperation across state borders and across national and State and Territory priorities. 

Shared National Stewardship of VET will ensure funding under the National Skills Agreement is used more effectively to achieve opportunities for all Australians, and ensure social and economic inclusion, especially for those historically locked out of the labour market.

The Agreement delivers on the Vision and Principles endorsed by National Cabinet which requires Skills Ministers to focus on gender equality and women’s economic participation, Closing the Gap for First Nations people, and ensuring more opportunities for young people, mature age Australians, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with disability, and regional and remote learners.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“The National Skills Agreement is consistent with so much of what my Government does – bringing people together from all over the country to address the common challenges faced by all of us.

“We need to train Australians for the jobs of today as well as the jobs of tomorrow.

“This important National Skills Agreement, alongside our very successful Fee-Free TAFE places, will mean more boilermakers, more chefs, more aged care workers, more child care workers, and more Australians with the skills that they need, but also the skills that our economy needs.”

the Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O’Connor said:

“This landmark agreement will kickstart real change.

“I’d like to thank my counterpart Skills Ministers for their genuine cooperation in looking to rebuild national vocational education and training, with TAFE at its heart.

“The ineffectual Coalition Government failed to land a national skills agreement with any State or Territory.

“The TAFE sector has endured periods of underfunding, impacts of deregulation, loose rules of VET market entry, a lack of national cohesion and an obsession for competition at the expense of collaboration.

“By providing genuine national leadership in partnership with states and territories, we are building a system that is greater than the sum of its parts.

“A high performing and world-class VET sector is crucial for achieving a fairer society and a stronger economy.”

National Cabinet met virtually today to discuss issues of national importance and agree to a new National Skills Agreement.

National Skills Agreement

First Ministers endorsed the new National Skills Agreement, building on National Cabinet’s close cooperation on other priorities, such as housing and planning.

The Agreement will support a new way of working together to deliver the nation’s social and economic priorities through shared stewardship of the vocational education and training (VET) system.

The new Agreement will see the Australian Government invest up to an additional $3.7 billion in VET over five years, bringing total Commonwealth investment through the Agreement up to $12.6 billion.

First Ministers noted that the National Skills Agreement delivers on the vision and guiding principles previously endorsed by National Cabinet. It will support a shared skills reform agenda that drives improved outcomes nationally, while recognising each state and territory’s unique circumstances and VET systems.

First Ministers also recommitted to fee-free TAFE, noting that almost 215,000 places were delivered in the first six months of this year. The Commonwealth and states and territories will partner to make a further 300,000 TAFE and VET places fee-free from January next year.

National Cabinet noted the shared challenges of skills shortage in every state and territory, and committed to keep working together through the National Skills Agreement and other avenues to ensure Australians are trained for the jobs of the future and the jobs the economy needs right now

This highlights the commitment of First Ministers to deliver high-quality, responsive and accessible vocational education and training to boost productivity and support Australians to obtain the skills they need to participate in rewarding work.

This media statement has been agreed by First Ministers and serves as a record of meeting outcomes.

Australian quantum science, biotechnology and outstanding teaching are all being recognised and celebrated in this year’s Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science.

Leading Australian quantum scientist Professor Michelle Simmons AO from UNSW Sydney has received the $250,000 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science for her pioneering developments in quantum computing.

Professor Simmons has championed breakthrough advancements to electronic parts for quantum computing, including components as small as one atom.

Professor Simmons founded Australia’s first quantum computing company, Silicon Quantum Computing, and alongside her team pioneered a new precise style of manufacturing that forms the basis for a new approach to quantum computing.

Professor Simmons’ efforts have the potential to be applied across several other fields, including therapeutic drug design, reducing the cost of airline fuel, and creating better fertilisers for agriculture.

Professor and entrepreneur Glenn King from the University of Queensland received the 2023 Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation for his ground-breaking discovery that the venom of the Australian funnel web spider can be used to make pharmaceuticals to treat chronic pain, epilepsy and stroke.

Judith Stutchbury received the 2023 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools. Ms Stutchbury is a teacher at Kalkie State School in Bundaberg, and has taught students about the importance of marine turtle conservation in the Great Barrier Reef, and authored an award-winning fiction book to promote environmental science.

Donna Buckley received the 2023 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools for inspiring students with diverse backgrounds by applying mathematics to real-world problems and introducing them to career paths in science related fields.

The achievements of all 2023 prize recipients can be found at Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese MP said:

“The achievements of the 2023 recipients reflect the world-class quality of Australia’s science and research sector and the dedication of our STEM teachers. It confirms the future of Australian science is stronger than ever.

“On behalf of all Australians, I want to thank and congratulate all the 2023 prize recipients for their remarkable contribution to Australian science, and to improving our lives.”

the Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic said:

“Excellence in Australian science and technology is on display again this year.

“Behind every great scientist is a dedicated science teacher.

“Australians put huge stock in our world-class scientists, and understands science and innovation is at the heart of human progress.

“Quantum computing has the power to transform industries and solve important challenges.

“From automation on factory floors to rapidly advancing AI, the science and innovation sector is creating secure and well-paid jobs.”

Find out more at Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science.

Following a corrosive misinformation campaign led by Peter Dutton, the Albanese Labor government must lay the groundwork for lasting First Nations justice through a $250 million commitment to a Truth and Justice commission, Adam Bandt said on Sunday morning.

National truth processes played a vital part in healing processes in Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. Victoria established the Yoorrook Justice Commission in May 2021 to hear, record and address the truths about First Peoples’ experiences of colonisation in Victoria from 1788 to now. The Yoorook Justice Commission has the powers of a Royal Commission.

A national Truth and Justice Commission would work alongside and in support of local and state level truth telling processes, and would help initiate processes in regions and states where none currently exist.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:

“Peter Dutton is the master of misinformation, and there’s an urgent need now for truth-telling and healing,” said Mr Bandt.

“Peter Dutton sowed fear and division with a Trumpian misinformation campaign. To lay the groundwork for lasting justice, we now need truth-telling and healing.

“The Greens are calling today for $250 million to be committed to a Truth and Justice Commission in this term of Parliament.

“There’s no need for delay and we can’t leave the country without a clear pathway forward. A national Truth and Justice Commission would bring everyone together to talk honestly about the violence and dispossession of First Nations peoples so we can heal and move forward together.

“To First Nations people who are hurting today, to everyone who is heartbroken, demoralised, exhausted or angry, the Greens are with you. The Greens will not stop fighting to advance First Nations justice.

“The Greens will push the government to establish a Truth and Justice Commission and work towards Treaties that recognise First Nations peoples’ sovereignty.”

Greens portfolio holder for First Nations, Senator Dorinda Cox said:

“This country is founded on violence and dispossession, but many people across the country have no idea of the truth of what happened to First Nations people during colonisation, nor the ongoing impacts of colonial systems and institutions.

“A $250 million commitment to a Truth and Justice Commission would begin the process of recognising and repairing the harms of 234 years of injustice, and allow our country to come together in an honest conversation where everyone has access to the truth.

“Until we tell the truth about our past and begin work towards a Treaty with First Nations people that recognises our sovereignty, there will be a painful hole in the centre of our democracy.

“It’s time to show some ambition. We must use this moment and momentum to drive the real change that will come through Truth and Treaty and the affirmation of First Nations Sovereignty.”

BACKGROUND

A truth-telling process involves exploring, understanding, and reckoning with our painful past and the impact it continues to have on First Nations people and their cultures.

The Truth and Justice Commission will be an independent body that investigates and reveals past wrongdoing to resolve ongoing and historical conflict and heal from it.

The Commission will have the powers of a Royal Commission and will investigate and reveal wrongdoing and human rights abuses perpetrated against First Nations people since colonisation to the present day.

The Truth and Justice Commission will lay the foundations for agreement making between governments and First Nations people, as well as foster healing and national unity based on truth-telling.

The Commission’s work will be underpinned by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and led by First Nations people.

Today Elizabeth Watson-Brown, Greens spokesperson for Transport, Infrastructure and Sustainable Cities introduced a Private Member’s Bill into federal Parliament. The Bill introduces hourly caps on flights, a late night curfew on non-emergency flights over Brisbane and brings in a long-term plan to move more flights over the water rather than over the city — in line with similar legislation that successfully manages flight noise over Sydney.

The Labor government did not support the Bill. After refusing to meet with affected residents, Transport Minister Catherine King has again failed to act on Brisbane flight noise by refusing to support the Greens Brisbane Airport Curfew and Demand Management Bill 2023.

Two Labor Prime Ministers, Anthony Albanese and Kevin Rudd, have campaigned on addressing flight noise in the past but they have since abandoned the issue.

Since the establishment of the second runway at Brisbane Airport in 2020, complaints have spiked, making Brisbane now the most complained about airport in the country. A 2022 survey run by local community group Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance showed that 74% of the 2000 respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they experienced mental distress related to aircraft noise.

Brisbane Airport intends to double the number of flights through Brisbane Airport by 2035, which will lead to even more residents being affected by excessive flight noise unless the federal government acts.

Elizabeth Watson-Brown, Greens Spokesperson for Transport, Infrastructure and Sustainable Cities said:

“Labor has failed people struggling with excessive flight noise in Brisbane yet again.”

“The Greens put forward a simple, common sense Bill that would have legislated three things: a curfew from 10pm to 6am, a cap on total flights per hour, and a long-term plan for more flights over the water. But despite these being similar regulations fought for by both Anthony Albanese and Kevin Rudd in the past, Labor has failed to support them today.”

“If it weren’t apparent already from the fact that Minister King has refused to meet with the community affected by flight noise, it’s clear now: the Minister and her government has chosen the side of Brisbane Airport Corporation’s profits over those of people just wanting a decent night’s sleep.”

“The Greens and the community won’t stop our fight for real action on excessive flight noise.”

The Australian Government has safely airlifted 255 people utilising two Royal Australian Air Force flights (a KC-30A and a C-17A Globemaster III) and a Government-supported private charter from Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The deployment of the two Defence aircraft, activated under Operation BEECH, follows the commencement of Australian Government assisted-departure flights from Tel Aviv on 13 October, 2023. Including the first flight on October 13, operated by Qantas, more than 400 Australians have now been airlifted from Israel on Government-supported flights.

Subject to factors including the security environment, the Australian Government is planning additional flights departing from Tel Aviv to Dubai today, for Australians wanting to leave. We encourage Australians wanting to leave to take these opportunities.

In addition, we have secured flights for onward travel to Australia for Australians arriving in Dubai.

The situation is highly challenging and rapidly changing. The Australian Government is considering whether further assisted-departure flights are required.

Australians in the affected areas who want to leave need assistance with departure should register via DFAT’s Crisis Portal or by calling the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas) or 1300 555 135 (from within Australia).

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will continue to provide updates to registered Australians.

Since Thursday, Services Australia has been assisting in the response to this developing crisis, with experienced staff taking consular calls on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Services Australia is also working with DFAT to identify what additional services may be required as the situation evolves over the coming days and weeks to ensure Australians are supported in their time of need, such as a referral avenue to social workers if required.

Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Richard Marles MP said:

“The safety of Australians impacted by this conflict is paramount for the Australian Government.”

“The activation of two Defence aircraft provides critical options for Australia as the conflict in Israel continues to evolve.”

“Australian nationals and visa holders who wish to leave Israel should ensure they are registered with DFAT via their crisis portal.”

QMinister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon. Penny Wong said:

“More than 1,200 Australians previously registered have now left Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including more than 400 Australians and their families on four Australian Government assisted-departure flights.”

“We continue to consider options to assist Australians who want to leave Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

“We encourage Australians who want to leave to take the first option available, do not wait for a different option.”

Minister for Government Services, the Hon. Bill Shorten MP said:

“The National Emergency Call Centre staffed by Services Australia plays a critical role in times of crisis.”

“Since the call centre activated at 2am on Thursday until midnight (AEDST), staff answered 1620 calls from people concerned about the situation in Israel and Gaza, seeking support to return home during this distressing time,” Minister Shorten said.

“It’s important they know the Australian Government is ready to provide assistance, and I know the professional social workers and call centre staff at Services Australia will do everything they can to provide that help.”

Today’s revelations that Tanya Plibersek’s flagged changes to national environmental laws have been delayed by at least another year should be regarded as yet another case of embarrassing incompetence from the Albanese Government.

Revealed as part of correspondence with the Greens, this delay breaks numerous Labor promises that the new environmental laws would be completed by the end of 2023.

As part of her response to the Samuel Review last year, she explicitly said that her new laws “would be prepared in the first six months of 2023” and that the exposure draft would be “introduced into Parliament before the end of 2023”.

Today’s news will also create even more uncertainty among stakeholders, many of whom are already highly frustrated by Ms Plibersek’s inability to drive sensible and balanced reforms. Numerous stakeholders, including the Opposition, have not even been consulted by the Minister about her specific legislative changes.

This means increased uncertainty for both the environmental movement and the business community, and will have a chilling effect on investment.

This additional 12 month delay also makes a complete lie of much of Ms Plibersek’s rhetoric as Minister about her desire to make urgent and sweeping changes to the EPBC Act.

As recently as last week, Ms Plibersek was even incredibly trying to present the impression that she was “two months ahead of schedule”. In a matter of days, that has been shown to be another falsehood.

It should be remembered that the former Coalition Government had actually completed much of the necessary work on these national environmental reforms way back in January 2021, at the time of the release of our own response to the Samuel Review. Ms Plibersek is therefore now running at least three-and-a-half years behind the Coalition’s schedule.

The basic reality is that Ms Plibersek has spent far more time distracted by other personal priorities – including pushing for a ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament – than on the core issues in her portfolios.

The number of Australians taking up skills training is in free fall under the Albanese Government. The latest data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) confirms today that over its first year of government Labor have presided over a 37.4 per cent decline in new training starts. Worryingly, NCVER found a 42.9 per cent decline in commencements for female trainees and apprentices.

This means there are around 37,225 less Australians commencing training as an apprentice today, such as an electrician, or as a trainee, such as a childcare worker, than when Labor took office. This has dire consequences for the training pipeline and our economy.

The freefall in apprentice and trainee starts follows a steady decline in the number of Australians in-training under Labor. Trade apprentices in-training hit record highs in the final months of the Coalition Government and as of June 2022, there were 415,240 apprentices and trainees in-training, which was 21.6 per cent higher than at the same time in 2021. Under Labor, this number has now fallen to 387,505.

Labor came to power promising it would solve skills shortages and deliver more opportunities for Australians to get into training. But the reality is they have delivered a collapse in apprenticeship and traineeship starts and a decline in the number of Australians in-training. This will hit the Australian economy hard.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Industry, Skills and Training Sussan Ley said NCVER’s official update sounded the alarm over Labor’s approach to skills.

“Today’s data demonstrates that while Anthony Albanese talks a big game on skills, he just isn’t delivering, in fact he has overseen an almost 40 per cent decline in new training starts in his first year alone” the Deputy Leader said.

“I am shocked by the collapse in women taking up training opportunities, especially given Labor said this was a key priority for them.

“Labor’s skills record is already in tatters, as the cost-of-living crisis worsens I am deeply concerned their failures will only worsen and everyday Australians will pay the price.”