There was something between not-much and sod-all for VET in the budget. Sure, there is a mention of funding, “to deliver projects that will arrest the decline in apprenticeships,” but that was about it. To which training lobbies replied with silence, perhaps stunned, maybe stony, but certainly silence.

The private providers were likely relieved that for once they were not blamed for every training failure since crook welding on the Titanic. But the TAFE lobby, rarely short on outrage, had nothing to say either.

There is, CMM suspects, a reason for this, which will be revealed in tonight’s budget reply speech. The Opposition has long signalled that it will run hard on funding TAFE. With the government not apparently interested, Labor leader Bill Shorten’s address is a good time to start.