Australian Greens' additional comments

1.1The Greens welcome the opportunity to contribute additional comments to the committee report and thank the witnesses and authors of submissions for the time and expertise contributed to the inquiry process.

1.2The Greens are proudly the party of public education where students have access to the best learning conditions, and where staff enjoy secure, well-paid jobs, and feel valued and respected for the incredible work they do. Lifelong education and training should be high-quality, fee-free, accessible, and public.

1.3This bill is an important step forward in removing financial barriers for some people to access TAFE, after decades of neglect by successive Labor and Coalition governments. This bill should be legislated in this term of government.

1.4While this bill is one step forward, everyone should be able to go to university and TAFE for free. There are other areas that require significant government investment to ensure a high-quality, effective TAFE system. As noted in the Majority Report at paragraph 2.37, a number of witnesses raised the need for additional and increased investment in facilities, infrastructure, and teaching staff. The Australian Education Union (AEU), reflecting on recent Federal Budgets, stated:

This reflects a long term, bipartisan neglect of the infrastructure on Australia's TAFE campuses, and the impact of this neglect has become more apparent with the influx of new students.

AEU members have highlighted a significant need for better infrastructure on our campuses, with less than one in five TAFE teachers considering the buildings and equipment at their campuses to be adequate. IT and other learning equipment is generally viewed to be out of date, and classrooms and buildings inadequate for the student cohort.[1]

1.5The AEU similarly highlighted that this legislation 'must be matched with funding for TAFE infrastructure, teaching and learning programs that support the unique needs of VET students, supports the TAFE workforce and revives and rebuilds the critical infrastructure that TAFE needs in order to support the influx of new students into the system'.[2]

1.6The TAFE sector has been subject to brutal funding cuts from successive governments and has suffered as governments have pursued the privatisation of education and contestable funding models. To turn this around, TAFE should be free, fully funded and properly resourced, with staff and students having the best teaching and learning conditions, infrastructure and equipment.

1.7Over the years, I have spoken to many in the sector who have raised concerns about the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) sitting in the Department of Home Affairs. AMEP was described in the hearing by AEU Secretary, Mr Kevin Bates, as 'essential programs for Australia to meet its commitments to people who come to this country through a variety of means, to allow them the opportunity that all Australians have a right to enjoy'.[3] Despite the importance of this program, issues have been raised about AMEP for a number of years, in particular the contractual process providers are put through to bid for AMEP provision. The AEU submitted that the program would be best managed by the Department of Education and that this would go some way to resolving these issues.[4]

1.8That the Australian Government legislate the Free TAFE Bill 2024 in this term of government.

1.9That the Australian Government wipe all student debt and make university and TAFE free for everyone.

1.10That the Australian Government increase investment in TAFEs to update infrastructure and equipment, and ensure secure jobs, fair pay and conditions for staff, and adequate resources and support for both staff and students.

1.11That the Australian Government move administration of the Adult Migrant English Program from the Department of Home Affairs to the Department of Education.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi

Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens

Senator for New South Wales

Footnotes

[1]Australian Education Union, Submission 60, [p. 5].

[2]Australian Education Union, Submission 60, [p. 1].

[3]Mr Kevin Bates, Federal Secretary, Australian Education Union, Proof Committee Hansard, 31January 2025, p. 16.

[4]Mr Kevin Bates, Federal Secretary, Australian Education Union, Proof Committee Hansard, 31January 2025, p. 16.