Fiona Phillips
Gilmore · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“For the past 26 years, Pig has been involved in charity car rallies, and in 1992 he hosted the first Nowra truck show, which raised $15,000 for the family of a fellow truckie who was tragically killed in a truck accident in Cobargo.”
“Today, I want to give a massive shout-out to a Shoalhaven legend, Ian Usher—better known locally as 'Pig'—who has raised more than $2 million for charities.”
“The team took on bush roads while raising funds to support men with mental health issues throughout Australia, as well as in our own community. Pig is proud and humble and isn't too keen on fanfare, but he really is a legend in our community.”
“At the other end of the scale, we have many young families that are encouraged to walk with prams or venture out with young kids on scooters or bikes to safely walk or ride to the local park, school or sporting fields.”
“Recently I joined with the Bawley Point and Kioloa communities to celebrate the completion of the pathway that connects the two coastal villages. It's a project that has taken decades and has been completed in stages, but the community pushed on because they knew how much it was needed.”
“Covering three local government areas of Kiama, Shoalhaven and the Eurobodalla, I know that new or improved footpaths and cycleways are at the top of the wish list for many communities, but council funding is limited.”
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“They bring talent, curiosity and fresh perspectives to our workplaces, which is why it is so important to break down those barriers and create real opportunities. When we provide the right support, everyone in the community benefits. I support the creation of a more inclusive society where people with disability have the chance to fully participate and thrive in all aspects of community life, including employment. Interchange Shoalhaven's Skills Boost program commenced on 7 July and will provide participants with an opportunity to put their skills to good use as trainees in local cafes and restaurants. It's so great to see. I am thrilled to see it working.”
“People with disability often face barriers to finding and keeping employment, so I was thrilled to see participants getting hands-on, real-life work experience when I visited Interchange Shoalhaven's new community hub. Interchange Shoalhaven in Nowra have received a $494,000 funding boost from the Albanese Labor government's Department of Social Services Structural Adjustment Fund so they can provide sustainable training and employment opportunities for people with a disability. Their new Skills Boost program offers training, mentoring and job placement support, as well as vocational education and training qualification opportunities. This is such a wonderful project, and I was delighted to pop into the hub and share a coffee with the participants. Australians with disability can and want to work.”
“Medicare urgent care clinics are an Albanese government initiative, because we believe in Medicare and in free, fully bulk-billed urgent care. You can't trust the Liberals with Medicare, and you can't trust the Liberals to keep urgent care clinics open.”
“I'm absolutely thrilled that, after lobbing for a second urgent care clinic on the South Coast, Labor will also deliver a federally funded Medicare urgent care clinic in Nowra. The Nowra clinic will be open seven days for extended hours, and will take pressure off the very busy Shoalhaven Hospital ED, which saw more than 23,000 non-urgent and semi-urgent presentations in 2023-24. The Liberals labelled our urgent care clinics as 'wasteful spending', but tell that to the people of Nowra, who are desperate for this service. Tell the more than 12,000 people in Batemans Bay that have avoided the ED queue. If the Liberals get their way, they will close Medicare urgent care clinics, forcing sick and injured Australians back into hospital waiting rooms. The Liberals had nine years to open Medicare urgent care clinics, and they never opened one.”
“I'm proud to be part of an Albanese Labor government that is listening to my community on the New South Wales South Coast by ensuring that locals have access to the medical care they need. More than 12,000 patients have used the Medicare urgent care clinic at Batemans Bay since the doors opened in December 2023. I know it will give my community peace of mind to know that under a re-elected Albanese Labor government the Batemans Bay clinic will be open 18 hours a day—the longest operating hours of any clinic in the country. That's free urgent care for urgent but non-life-threatening conditions, available from 6 am until midnight every day. All they will need is their Medicare card, not a credit card.”
“When our kids twist an ankle during their weekend footy match or break a finger playing netball, they shouldn't have to sit in pain for hours in a busy emergency department waiting room. When we cut our finger while making dinner or go down with a virus, spending hours waiting to see a doctor in the hospital ER is exhausting and, quite frankly, infuriating. We all know our emergency rooms are clogged up, placing our wonderful nurses and doctors under more pressure. That's why the Albanese Labor government is opening more Medicare urgent care clinics. Our walk-in Medicare urgent care clinics are taking the pressure off our hospital emergency departments, and they're also providing free medical care for people when they need it. Parents and families swear by them, with one-third of presenting patients being under the age of 15.”
“People of all ages and from all walks of life are already reaping the benefits of this government's responsible cost-of-living measures. That wouldn't be the case if the Liberals had their way, because those opposite have opposed our cost-of-living measures time and time again. They opposed our tax cuts for every taxpayer. They've opposed our Medicare urgent care clinics. They've opposed free TAFE, cheaper medicines and cheaper child care. And they've opposed our $300 energy bill relief. Australians would have been much worse off over the last couple of years if Peter Dutton had had his way. They will be worse off still if he wins the election.”
“The 10 per cent increase in rent assistance means an average increase of $19 per fortnight for over 8,000 people in Gilmore. We're helping people save at the checkout too, with the CHOICE supermarket price monitoring making supermarkets more competitive and allowing consumers to make price comparisons. These are real, practical savings and effective cost-of-living measures. Students are receiving a leg-up, with $3 billion wiped from HECS and apprentice loans across the country, including for 13,286 locals in Gilmore. We'll wipe 20 per cent off student debt too. Let's not forget our plan to keep TAFE free and to keep our Commonwealth prac payments for nurses, teachers and social workers, meaning they can now earn money while they learn.”
“These are tangible ways we're helping Australians with the cost of living. I'm pleased to see individuals, families, students and seniors across my electorate already benefiting from a range of measures we have introduced to ease financial stress while placing downward pressure on inflation. From 1 July, 64,000 taxpayers in Gilmore received an average tax cut of $1,405. That's money going straight back into the pockets of hardworking locals. Gilmore pensioners and seniors are saving in many other ways, with an increase in rent assistance, the 12-month freeze on deeming rates plus a wage increase for aged-care workers and more home-care packages. We know the cost of living is biting families. That's why we've given everyone a tax cut and provided wage increases for our lowest-paid workers.”
“South Coast pensioners and concession cardholders will have more money in their wallets because, for the next five years, they won't pay more than $7.70 for a PBS script. Since the Batemans Bay Medicare Urgent Care Clinic opened in December 2023, we've seen more than 12½ thousand patients walk through the doors, all bulk-billed. I'm thrilled that, under a re-elected Albanese Labor government, the Batemans Bay urgent care clinic will open from 6 am until midnight, and a new federally funded clinic will open its doors in Nowra. The recently opened walk-in Medicare mental health clinics at Nowra and Moruya are also providing free access to mental health support for people in our community when they need it most. And we are expanding the bulk-billing incentive program so more people across Gilmore can see their GP for free.”
“Gilmore residents have already benefitted from Labor's cheaper medicines, saving almost $10 million on the cost of their scripts during our time in government. Under a re-elected Labor government, they will save even further, with a more than 20 per cent cut in the maximum cost of PBS medicines to save Australians $200 million each year. It's been more than two decades since Australians paid no more than $25 for a PBS medicine. In stark contrast, when the Liberal leader was the health minister, he tried to jack up the cost of medicines, he tried to end bulk-billing and he wanted to slash funding for Medicare. In opposition, the Liberals have voted to block cheaper medicines six times. With an older population, accessible and affordable health services play a critical role in my electorate.”
“I know people in my electorate of Gilmore are doing it tough, which is why the Albanese government is taking practical steps to help ease the cost of living. I'm really looking forward to Treasurer Jim Chalmers' budget speech tonight when he will build upon our plan to provide more meaningful and sensible cost-of-living assistance. This week we have announced an additional $150 in energy bill relief for households and small business, ensuring Australians can keep more of what they earn. That's on top of the $300 energy rebate that people across the country have already received. Health care has always been a top priority in my electorate, which is why I'm thrilled that the Albanese Labor government will make cheaper medicines even cheaper with a script to cost Australians no more than $25 under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.”
“It turns out backflips are in the Liberal candidate for Gilmore's DNA. When he was the state member for Bega and minister, he supported the closing of the Batemans Bay hospital to enable the creation of the new level 4 Eurobodalla Regional Hospital. He said that the community should rally together and cast their parochialism aside. Now he's backflipped on that too and is trying to fool the community. At a Kiama housing roundtable, he supported periurban development, like over those green rolling hills. Only months later, he has backflipped again. The only housing he wants is 10 to 15 years away. How can anyone trust a word the gold-medal backflipper says? (Time expired)”
“If there were an Olympic gold medal for political backflips, the Liberal candidate for Gilmore would win hands down. After the devastating bushfires, he said he'd quit politics—but then said he'd run for Eden-Monaro. The next day he abandoned that idea. Then he wanted to represent a different electorate—Gilmore—and lost. He followed that with two failed Senate preselections to represent New South Wales, and even sounded out the state seat of Kiama. As a minister in the Liberal state government, he supported renewables. Now he has backflipped: he doesn't want offshore wind and supports the nuclear fantasy. Then, on Sky News live, he said that the 2035 Paris Agreement target was 'off the table' for the Liberal Party. The only thing was it wasn't. So he backflipped again and walked that back.”
“As a woman and a mum, I join with women of all ages from right across the nation in celebrating Labor's $573 million investment to provide more choice, lower costs and better health care for women. I welcome the Albanese government's delivery of more doctors, more health workers and more accessible, affordable health care for people in Gilmore.”
“Since September 2023, women in my electorate have been able to access multidisciplinary care at the South-Eastern Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic in Milton. With one in nine women living with endometriosis, it's really essential that they receive good support and a timely diagnosis, and it's just fantastic that women in Gilmore can access help from a local team close to home. It's also great news that, thanks to this government, women can now receive specialist gynaecological care without worrying about the cost. The addition of endometriosis medicines, some contraceptive pills and menopausal hormone therapies to the PBS will be life-changing for women.”
“In the past 12 months I'm proud to have officially opened the doors of two free walk-in mental health centres at Nowra and Moruya, which provide a safe space where adults in distress can seek immediate support. In response to community need, I've lobbied hard to get these services up and running to ensure that Eurobodalla and Shoalhaven residents can get the mental health care they need. Access to mental health support is absolutely crucial for young people living in regional areas. That's why, following the tragic loss of a number of teenagers to suicide in my community, I also worked alongside my local community to secure federal funding to establish the much-needed headspace for Kiama, which is now open.”
“Our tripling of the GP incentive to bulk-bill pensioners, Commonwealth concession card holders and students has made a real difference in my community. We have a lot of older people in Gilmore and families struggling with the cost of living, so more people seeing a bulk-billed GP relieves a bit of that pressure. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners called our investment in Medicare 'a game changer', and it has given GPs the confidence to increase bulk-billing after a decade of cuts to and neglect of Medicare. Health care is incredibly important in my community, and I will always advocate for improved health services to assist people in Gilmore.”
“As part of its plan to improve health services, the Albanese Labor government is continuing to establish Medicare urgent care clinics right across the country. These clinics are fantastic, especially in regional areas, where they take pressure off our emergency departments by providing treatment for a range of non-life-threatening conditions, like cuts, sprains, stings and viral infections. Forty years ago the Labor government created Medicare because they understood—and we still understand—the importance of making health care available and affordable for all Australians. It's fantastic to see the Albanese government's record investment to strengthen Medicare has revived bulk-billing across my Gilmore electorate.”
“It's funny how good ideas just explode, because, since launching the Batemans Bay campaign, I've been contacted by people from right across the Gilmore electorate asking for a Medicare urgent care clinic in their town. They have seen how well the Batemans Bay clinic is working and they want one as well. I would love to see a second free, bulk-billed clinic open for the people of the South Coast, and I'm seeking feedback from people about that and the best possible location. With many retirees, young families and a population that swells during the holiday periods, it would be great to have in the region another urgent care clinic where patients can just walk in and all services are bulk-billed.”
“I will always fight for access to quality, affordable health care for people living in my electorate of Gilmore, which is why I campaigned for and delivered the Batemans Bay Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. It's why I am lobbying for a second urgent care clinic for the New South Wales South Coast. Since the Batemans Bay urgent care clinic opened in December 2023, more than 11,000 people have presented for the treatment of urgent but non-life-threatening conditions. The Batemans Bay clinic has been embraced by the community. It has been such a success, particularly over the busy summer holidays, that I am seeking extended hours and a higher level of care for the Eurobodalla community.”
“My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. How is the Albanese Labor government working to protect access to air services in regional Australia? Are there other approaches that will leave regional Australians worse off?”
“My question is to the Minister for Industry and Science. How is the Albanese Labor government's Future Made in Australia plan creating secure, well-paid jobs for Australian workers? Is the minister aware of any approaches that would leave Australian manufacturing worse off?”
“We established the tripartite Agricultural Workforce Working Group and stood up the agriculture labour taskforce within the department. Our free TAFE is making a difference, with over 22,100 enrolments in agriculture-related free TAFE courses from January 2023 to September 2024. Under the Albanese Labor government, the Pacific and Australian Labour Mobility scheme—or PALM scheme, as it's known—has continued to grow from around 8,000 workers in March 2020 to over 27,000 at the end of November 2024. We've funded the continuation of the AgCAREERSTART gap-year employment program for an additional two years. Our government is continuing to invest in programs that support employment, support our farmers and keep Australian agriculture strong.”
“We are committed to supporting our exporters to pursue opportunities in new markets, including through building stronger economic ties with India, negotiating a free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates, supporting greater regional trade cooperation and maximising the gains from recent free trade agreements. There were massive issues left over by the Liberals, who ignored workforce shortages in the agriculture industry for too long. The Liberals ripped away funding from TAFE. They created a massive visa backlog and eroded worker protections. They had an ag visa, then they didn't and then they did again. But it failed to deliver a single worker to Australian farmers. In stark contrast, we have not wasted a second in cleaning up the mess of those opposite.”
“I'm pleased to say that, since coming to government, the Albanese Labor government has recorded 169 market access achievements since July 2022. This is so important because Australia exports over 70 per cent of our agricultural, fisheries and forestry produce to 169 markets globally. We have restored dialogue to Australia's relationship with China and secured the removal of $20 billion of trade impediments. Dining tables in China will now feature live Australian rock lobsters—a win for our farmers and our exporters. We see similar stories right throughout the sector, from record red-meat exports to the booming aquaculture industry.”
“After my own, dairy farming dad passed away when I was 21, I made a promise to myself that one day I would do something to help farmers like my dad. Today I stand in this Australian parliament, proud to say I am a member of the House Standing Committee on Agriculture that has taken part in inquiries into growing Australian agriculture to $100 billion, feeding the nation and beyond. But it is since coming to government that we have made real strides to deliver for Aussie farmers and producers, helping our nearly $100 billion agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors continue to grow. It really was a horror time under the Morrison Liberal government when international relationships became fragmented and Australia's reputation suffered as a result.”
“It ranges from horse events to the magnificent pavilion, where cakes, artwork and flowers are all carefully created and exhibited. It's where local community organisations, schools and businesses all come together, and it's where our kids gain an insight into our proud agricultural past and future. Over the past couple of weeks I've also been to the Berry, Kiama and Eurobodalla agricultural shows, and I'm really looking forward to the Kangaroo Valley and Milton shows. My electorate of Gilmore is proud of its agricultural heritage, and there is nothing better than seeing our community come together and have such a good time. Food is essential, and we should never take for granted how important agriculture and farming is for the existence of our families, our communities, our country and the world.”
“I thank the fine member for Hunter for moving this motion, because as regional members we know how important our farmers are to our regions, our country and the world. On Friday, I attended the Nowra Show. It's a show I've been attending for more than 50 years. I grew up on a dairy farm, and the show has always been a big part of my life. It has been 150 years since the first Nowra show, and our farmers still come together to show their animals and produce, and provide demonstrations to keep the ag spirit alive. It's where dairy farmers, beef farmers, poultry and alpaca farmers, timber, vegetable and crop growers enter their finest. It's where high school students enter cattle and take very seriously the growing of the biggest pumpkin.”
“There's one consistent thing about the Liberals: they're all negative. They've opposed every cost-of-living relief measure we've implemented and, as a mum, I just find that offensive. The Liberals will say and do anything to try and get elected, but the truth is that does nothing to help people in my electorate and regional Australia. We're getting on with providing sensible cost-of-living relief where we can and building a future in regional Australia that we can all be proud of.”
“We've tripled GP bulk-billing incentives for pensioners, concession cardholders and students. Just today we announce an additional $1.7 billion for public hospitals to strengthen Medicare and fund hospitals and health services to cut waiting lists, bring down waiting times and tackle ramping. We've provided energy bill relief for every household, and we've provided fee-free TAFE for skills shortage industries like trades, because we know we need tradies to build more homes, which we're doing under our ambitious housing agenda. There are $10,000 apprenticeship incentives to encourage more apprentices into the residential housing sector. There are tax cuts for every taxpayer. Wages are up and, if we're re-elected, we'll slash 20 per cent off student debt, helping 13,000 university students in Gilmore. But the Liberals just oppose all that.”
“With health, I am pleased to say that over 11,000 people have now benefited from our fully bulk-billed Batemans Bay Medicare urgent care clinic. I also have a petition going to expand the hours and the level of care at the Batemans Bay urgent care clinic, and I encourage people to sign the petition. In fact, the urgent care clinic has been so successful that I've launched a new petition to establish a second federally funded urgent care clinic on the New South Wales South Coast. Bring it on! I've already opened a Medicare mental health hub at Nowra and one at Moruya. I've opened a headspace at Kiama. I've opened the south-eastern endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic at Milton. There is so much going on in the health space to support locals and ease cost-of-living pressures where we can, like our cheaper medicines.”
“Local councils will see more money to help fix local roads because of our decision to progressively double Roads to Recovery funding over the next five years. Black spot road funding is increasing too. We've had so many natural disasters in our region: over 38 landslips and pummelled roads and over 150 local roads all fixed with federal and state funding under disaster recovery funding arrangements. I made sure that in the October 2022 budget Shoalhaven City Council had an extra $40 million to fix more local roads. While there have been some delays due to those natural disasters, I am pleased that Shoalhaven council have been progressing this with their appointment of the project consultant who is scooping up those works.”
“Once the initial planning phase concludes in 2026, the Nowra bypass project is expected to move into its development phase. The Jervis Bay flyover is under construction thanks to $100 million in funding from the Albanese Labor government—and what a huge difference this intersection is going to make when it is complete. The Princes Highway upgrade from Jervis Bay Road to Hawken Road is also progressing well, with a contract awarded for the next phase. The Milton-Ulladulla bypass has recently moved into that next phase, with a contract awarded for the development of the concept, design and environmental assessment. It is a project with $752 million in federal funding. We not long ago opened the $35 million far north collector road, for which I sought additional funding so it could be finished and opened.”
“I am proud to live in regional Australia. I grew up on a dairy farm. I went to a small public school and my local high school. It's where my tradie husband and I have raised our four kids, who still live locally. I get regional Australia and, as a mum, I have always wanted to give back and help people in the area I love. That's why I am here in this place. So let's talk about some of the things that are hugely important to people in my electorate. One thing is roads. There's a reason that the Nowra bypass is finally moving forward: because we're funding it. I picked this project up when no Liberal member ever did and made sure it got funding. I'm pleased to say that, through our efforts, the project has $97 million in funding from the Albanese Labor government.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. What work has the Albanese Labor government done to strengthen health care in Australia after a decade of cuts to Medicare? Are there any other approaches to health care that would leave Australians worse off?”
“Businesses would be forced to look overseas for workers instead of employing Australians here at home. Education should not be a privilege. A Labor government will always stand up for public education and local jobs. The Liberals cut $3 billion of funding from the VET system and TAFE, clearly demonstrating they don't understand or value the importance of strong TAFEs in our local communities. More than a third of all the enrolments in free TAFE have been in regional and rural areas like Gilmore. Public education runs through my veins, and TAFE holds a special place in my heart. I will always fight for public education and stand up against any efforts to undermine TAFE. There is a clear choice at this election. The opposition leader and the Liberals will cut free TAFE funding, and Australians will pay more for TAFE.”
“Under the Liberals, you won't get that. They destroyed TAFE, and under the Liberals my local TAFE campuses looked like a ghost town, as classes were slashed and teachers sacked. I should know; I worked there for over 10 years. Despite us saving ordinary Australians thousands on TAFE fees, the deputy opposition leader had the nerve to label free TAFE 'wasteful spending'. She says free TAFE isn't working. Well, I can tell you that the Liberals have got it very wrong, because under Labor my local TAFE campuses across Gilmore are thriving. There is a TAFE in nearly every community across Australia, and every community in Australia deserves access to great vocational education and training. Peter Dutton's demolition of TAFE would mean housing and energy projects couldn't get off the ground because of skills shortages.”
“We have a responsibility to help people here and now. We owe it to the next generation of Australians to build an economy that unlocks their talents and rewards their efforts. That starts with equal access to education for every Australian, no matter their background or financial situation. Free TAFE is an investment in our future, and it's an investment in our people, ensuring all Australians have the skills and capacity to contribute to a thriving economy. The Liberals' failure to invest in skilling up our people will leave businesses stranded and Australians locked out of reaching their potential. Supporting vocational education and TAFE training is what Labor does. With high-quality skills and training, we are building a better Australia. A reliable and trusted VET sector is critical for our economy.”
“The opposition are showing their absolute disregard for young people and families in regional communities like the South Coast and are completely out of touch with the needs of young Australians. The opposition leader and the Liberals will cut free TAFE funding, and Australians will pay more for TAFE. The opposition will take opportunities away from thousands of hardworking Australians who are getting the skills they need for the jobs they want. The Liberals have ripped the guts out of TAFE before, and they have made it clear they will do it again. Last time they were in government, we saw the damage that their disregard for the VET system and skilling Australians did. We can't risk the Liberals slashing pathways for workers to enter essential industries like health care, construction and tech again.”
“I have travelled from one end of my electorate to the other and listened to young people who are training at TAFE and listened to adults who are retraining and gaining new skills. I've been walking the streets of our villages and towns in Gilmore and talking with people who are reaping the real rewards of fee-free TAFE. I've spoken to builders who are under the pump, constructing hundreds of new homes in our fast-growing region. They are screaming out for tradies, from plasterers to brickies, roofers and more. We need to build more homes, we need more tradies and, to do that, we need to continue free TAFE. As hundreds of students prepare to commence another semester of TAFE in my electorate, including free TAFE courses, I am extremely disappointed that the opposition leader will not support our fee-free TAFE bill.”
“Defence and defence industry are our biggest employers, and this aeroskills course will provide local students with an opportunity to fill in-demand roles, such as aircraft maintenance engineers and aircraft line maintenance workers. Through a mixture of theory and practical units, the new course will give students insight from industry experienced teachers to ensure planes—and helicopters, of course—fly smoothly and safely. Students will gain practical experience and develop specialist skills to give them an advantage in the job market, including working on real aircraft components on a variety of aircraft and working safely and sustainably in the industry. You can clearly see that I have been on the ground, talking with students, employers and apprentices, and I can tell you free TAFE is going gangbusters in Gilmore.”
“Established in 1985, Beach House Stairs is a wonderful family business that builds custom designed staircases, timber handrails, balustrades and benchtops. Small businesses like these are committed to training our young people and helping them find their path to a secure future, and, under Labor, they have our support. It's great to see TAFE booming on the South Coast and the recent introduction of the TAFE Certificate II in Aeroskills, which is also fee free. The aeroskills course is providing our young people with a pathway to an exciting career as an avionics maintainer, to support defence industry jobs locally. We're a proud Navy town, home to HMAS Albatross , the fleet air arm, and HMAS Creswell , so it's really important that we have defence related TAFE courses on offer here to give local students an entry into the industry.”
“It was really great to talk with him, as well as his three current apprentices, about the importance of building the skills and talent in the Australian workforce to meet current and future skills gaps. First-year carpentry apprentices Nathan and Nicholas and second-year apprentice Brendan said that, with no shortage of work in the building industry, they felt confident they had great careers ahead of them. Nathan, 17, from Moruya, said everyone in his family was a tradie, and he wanted to leave school and do hands-on work. It was so amazing to learn that every one of Robert's employees completed their carpentry apprenticeship with his company. He said his staff could see that there was plenty of work on offer and were enthused by the potential earnings for tradespeople.”
“I could see how passionate she was about cars, and it was great to see her interest in learning more about electric vehicles too. The pair travel to Nowra TAFE once a week and work in a workshop equipped with up-to-date scanning, diagnostic and programming tools for all modern vehicles. They are looking forward to one day taking the helm of their family business, and I'm delighted that TAFE is providing them with the variety of skills needed to do just that. During the visit we also met with Robert Beattie, the owner of Beach House Stairs at Batemans Bay and a huge supporter of young people and TAFE. You could say Robert knows a bit about training young people, having employed an incredible 45 apprentice carpenters at his business over the past 38 years.”
“In October I joined the Minister for Skills and Training to meet with twins Najara and Harrisen, both first-year motor mechanic apprentices at Batemans Bay. The 17-year-old siblings are being trained under the watchful eye of their father, Mark, the owner and director of Batemans Bay Automotive Repairs, who boast more than 20 years experience in the trade. The small family business has been employing and upskilling five apprentices since 2015, providing job opportunities for young people in our region. It was also really great to see this business employing women in a historically male dominated trade. Najara is working in a priority cohort, and has improved access to flexible, safe and inclusive training and work opportunities, which is just fantastic.”
“That's school leavers, mums, dads and older people retraining and getting ahead without putting added financial pressure on their family. I've been on the ground and walking the streets, talking with local apprentices, employers and TAFE students to hear about how and why they chose an apprenticeship, and how fee-free TAFE is helping them. Back in November I visited the Nowra TAFE campus with the Acting Prime Minister. We went into electrical and carpentry classes. We spoke with students and heard how fee-free TAFE is providing that bit of important financial relief for students and their families. These classes are booming at Nowra—training our tradies of the future—thanks to free TAFE.”
“The Albanese government is committed to investing in the skills Australia needs to drive economic growth. Our Free TAFE Bill offers greater certainty to students, employers and industry, and commits the Commonwealth to ongoing support to states and territories for free TAFE. In regional areas like Gilmore, so many kids want to finish school and gain an apprenticeship or train at their local TAFE. Many don't want to leave home and move to the city to find work or go to uni. They are salt-of-the-earth kids. They've grown up in small coastal towns, and often they want to work hard and follow in the footsteps of their parents, grandparents and siblings, whether that's working as a tradie, a nurse or an early educator. I am so pleased that more than 4,400 students took up free TAFE in my electorate last year.”
“We need skilled people to build and install solar panels, to make buses and roads. We want to make more things here in Australia, and to do that we need to train more people. Where can our young people learn these skills? TAFE. Where can they study for free? TAFE. How do we start building a future made in Australia? Yes, TAFE is the answer. The Albanese government is committed to investing in the skills Australia needs to drive economic growth. Our Free TAFE Bill offers greater certainty to students, employers and industry, and commits the Commonwealth to ongoing support to the states and territories for free TAFE. In regional areas like Gilmore, so many kids want to finish school. Debate interrupted.”
“Whether our kids or grandkids want to become tradies, childcare workers, nurses, computer programmers or even cybersecurity experts, TAFE provides that opportunity. Free TAFE means more people of all ages can train, upskill or retrain to fill the gaps in our workforce. By making free TAFE permanent, we can deliver a coordinated response to workforce shortages in priority industries, like construction, and ensure a pipeline of skilled workers that Australia needs now and into the future. We need to provide more housing right across Australia. We need to make homes more affordable to rent and buy. To do that we need skilled tradies to build more homes. We need skilled people to build homes, apartment complexes, manufacturing plants, hospitals and community centres.”