Labor’s choice of voced experts has set the terms of reference for the proposed post-school education inquiry the party will convene if it wins the next election. Meeting in Canberra yesterday they agreed to a range of issues to address, including a single post-school funding model, the role of government, unions and business in growing apprenticeships and how to ensure qualifications are fit for purpose.

The TOR also acknowledge Labor’s commitment to TAFE, which shadow ministers use as a synonym for training. And the inquiry will be “guided’ by the principle that TAFE and higher education should be equally accessible and attractive to prospective students. This will please the public training lobby which will use it to argue that TAFE needs a bunch more money to be competitive.

In what looks like a concession to business opinion there is also a reference to the role of private providers with industry links.