The Liberals' desperate attempt to undermine Labor's Free TAFE policy is not only baseless, but also demonstrates their complete lack of policy ideas to address Tasmania's chronic skills shortage.
Labor Leader Rebecca White said the Education Minister's attack on Labor's policy is an embarrassment to him and the government.
"Labor's fully-costed Free TAFE policy was developed in direct response to the Liberals' dismantling and undermining of TAFE," Ms White said.
"As the Minister well knows, our Free TAFE policy is in addition to our broader plan to rebuild TAFE from the ground up and will support another 20,000 Tasmanians to get a foot in the door to a good job.
"We will invest $22.5 million over four years to expand the teaching workforce by approximately 20 per cent, improve regional delivery and align training with workforce needs, with a further $40 million to provide training in areas of critical skills shortages, including aged care and disability services, as well as building and construction, tourism, hospitality and agriculture.
"Labor has a plan to expand TAFE with a clear and costed plan, to help Tasmanian businesses looking to upskill existing staff or take on trainees or apprentices, and to provide Tasmanians with the skills they need for the jobs of the future.
"More than 14 per cent of young Tasmanians remain without work, and we have the worst under-employment rate in the country as well as the lowest participation rate.
"Labor will continue to focus on creating training and work opportunities for Tasmanians and building a better and fairer state. Instead of making baseless accusations about our policies, perhaps the Liberals should do the same."
Rebecca White MP
Labor Leader
