Rebuilding TAFE from the ground up and providing free courses in critical areas is a key plank of Labor's fully-costed jobs plan Working for Tasmania.
Shadow Labor Minister for TAFE and Skills Michelle O'Byrne said under Premier Peter Gutwein's Budget, unemployment is forecast to remain above 8 per cent.
"We know the already worrying jobs situation is set to become much worse, yet Peter Gutwein has not presented a comprehensive jobs plan.
"The best way to strengthen the economy is to get people back into work. And we know that the pathway to a good job starts with good training.
"While the Liberals have progressively dismantled and undermined TAFE, Labor will rebuild it," Ms O'Byrne said.
Labor will invest $22.5 million over four years to expand the teaching workforce, improve regional delivery and align training with industry needs. A further $40 million will be spent providing free TAFE training in areas of critical skills shortages.
"Tasmania's unemployment rate is 7.6 per cent, and the youth unemployment rate is a staggering 16.5 per cent," Ms O'Byrne said.
"Peter Gutwein has delivered Tasmanians a budget that accepts the state's unemployment rate will grow to 8.5 per cent and offers no path out.
"Even with so many people looking for work, businesses are still flying in tradespeople, chefs and other workers from the mainland because they are unable to find skilled staff locally.
"Over the next four years Labor's Free TAFE policy will support 20,000 Tasmanians to get a foot in the door to a good job and ensure that we have the ongoing investment in staff to train them.
"Labor understands that our economic recovery will be forever constrained without a full overhaul of our skills and training system.
"Labor has a plan to rebuild TAFE from the ground up and give Tasmanians the skills they need to get the jobs of the future."
Michelle O'Byrne MP
Shadow Minister for TAFE and Skills
