Budget reply: Shorten sticks to his promises

In his budget reply Bill Shorten went the full Mortein on education – he’s decided he is on a good thing and he’s sticking to it 

A Labor Government, “will uncap university places” for “an additional 200 000 Australians,” Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said last night.

In his budget reply, Mr Shorten also confirmed deputy leader and shadow education minister Tanya Plibersek would be education minister in a Labor government.

In a speech that emphasised VET, Mr Shorten also committed Labor “to backing public TAFE all the way.” And he announced a doubling, to $200m, of the party’s TAFE rebuilding fund to renovate campuses. He also promised his government would meet “up-front fees” in high priority industries, for 100 000 TAFE students, including 20 000 for workers in the NDIS.

While Mr Shorten appeared to put a ceiling on undergraduate places, CM understands the 200 000 figure refers to independent modelling which estimates demand will increase by this number the next decade. A return to demand driven funding continues Labor policy.

While Mr Shorten talked up investment in technology and manufacturing his speech made no mention of research.

Demonstrating Labor long-ago picked post-school education as a party plus, Mr Shorten’s speech last night included commitments, and lines, from his budget reply last year, (CMM May 11 2018).

 


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