A Minns Labor Government will establish TAFE Domestic Manufacturing Centres of Excellence to help rebuild TAFE and our state’s domestic manufacturing capacity, boost local skills and apprentices, and create thousands of new jobs – starting with the Hunter.
The Domestic Manufacturing Centres of Excellence will be able to train, re-train, and upskill more than 300 local apprentices and workers in traditional and advanced manufacturing techniques and technologies every year.
NSW Labor will commit $42.7 million towards upgrading and fitting out three facilities in the Hunter, the Illawarra, and Western Sydney, catering for around 1,000 students a year and offering courses like mechanical engineering and electrical fitting for free.
The Domestic Manufacturing Centres of Excellence are a key part of NSW Labor’s plan to rebuild TAFE and boost domestic manufacturing to resolve the state-wide skills crisis.
NSW Labor will build things here
Labor has already announced that we will build new trains in New South Wales and begin the procurement process for the next set of trains to replace the ageing Tangara fleet in its first term.
Today, Labor can announce that building the next set of trains in NSW will create 1000 good, long-term jobs, including 200 apprenticeships, during the design and build phase and many more in maintenance for the life of the trains.
Those apprentices will be trained here in NSW through one of the Domestic Manufacturing Centres of Excellence.
Replacing the Tangaras will begin a long-term pipeline of manufacturing work and form the basis for the return of a sustainable rail manufacturing industry in New South Wales.
NSW deserves a government that backs Australian-made and will buy Australian-made, and while we can’t rebuild an entire sector overnight, we must start somewhere.
It took Victoria 7 years, but as a direct result of their procurement policies, they now support 40,000 local jobs – It’s time for a new direction in New South Wales.
A fresh start for domestic manufacturing and TAFE
After 12 years of Dominic Perrottet and the Liberals, there is a clear choice at the next election.
More offshoring of skills and thousands of jobs overseas, bungled and broken transport infrastructure.
Or a fresh start for domestic manufacturing in NSW, with a Minns Labor Government that will back building trains, ferries and buses right here.
Labor has already announced:
- A target of 50 per cent minimum local content for future transport rolling stock contracts;
- Increased tender weightings for local content, jobs creation, small business and ethical supply chains to 30 per cent;
- A NSW Jobs First Commission – an independent, expert body – to oversee the implementation and growth of local industries. Its first job will be to audit our current domestic manufacturing capabilities;
- A guarantee of a minimum of 70 per cent of total skills funding goes to TAFE;
- A comprehensive review of the vocational education system; and
- Working collaboratively with industry to make the state government’s pipeline as easy as possible for local suppliers.
Chris Minns, NSW Labor leader said:
“I want to build trains, buses, and ferries here in the Hunter. But it will take a government with the political will to do – and I am determined to.”
“The Hunter has missed out on the skills, the jobs and the work because this government was obsessed with offshoring transport projects.”
“Under Labor, we’ll skill up our people, begin a pipeline of work and get NSW building things again.”
Jo Haylen, NSW Shadow Minister for Transport said:
“If you vote Labor, they will be built in Australia and NSW. If you vote for Dominic Perrottet and the Liberals, they will be built overseas, like all their other failed trains, trams and ferries.”
Anoulack Chanthivong, NSW Shadow Minister for Industry and Trade said:
“This Liberal Government has neglected our manufacturing industry for the past 12 years. This has led to job losses and declining skills and training opportunities for NSW workers.
Tim Crakanthorp, NSW Shadow Minister for TAFE and Skills said:
“Labor will bring transport manufacturing back home, and we build the workforce needed to get these projects rolling in NSW again.”
“TAFE has a proud history and has trained generations of skilled workers but has been decimated by this government.”
“Under Labor, TAFE will thrive and train the next generation so NSW can build great things right here, just like we used to.”
Yasmin Catley, Shadow Minister for the Hunter:
“Under the Liberals, thousands of manufacturing jobs have been shipped overseas.
“Jobs from regions like ours have been the backbone of our local manufacturing for decades.
“Under a Labor Government, this will end. We will rebuild our local manufacturing industry and bring jobs back to the Hunter.”
Sonia Hornery, Member for Wallsend:
“I’m so pleased to have NSW Labor Leader, Chris Minns in the Wallsend electorate at EDI Downer.”
“The Hunter has a strong history of manufacturing trains, and under a future NSW Labor Government, we will see manufacturing return.
“We have the policies to ensure our young school leavers can become apprentices building the transport assets of the future and building careers for themselves into the future.”
“It is vital that we farewell the era of sending domestic manufacturing overseas. We should be building things here and creating jobs in New South Wales for New South Wales”.
Jodie Harrison, Member for Charlestown:
“We can and do make rolling stock here in the Hunter.”
“We need to better support people who want to be part of the changing economy of the Hunter, and this policy will do that.”
“Many of my family members achieved their trade qualifications at TAFE – we must ensure TAFE is the leading vocational education provider it can be. That’s why I’m so excited to be here for this commitment today.”