“As a Labor Government, we are unashamedly supportive of the skills sector. We are also very clear that TAFE should always be at the heart of our skills sector”

Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor made the case for TAFE to Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia yesterday.

But in the released text of his speech Mr O’Connor also explains what’s in it for private providers. “If we don’t lift the status and capability of TAFE, we cannot lift the status of independent providers – and of skills as a whole. … It’s not a binary choice, either. We can, and should, support both public and private VET providers, and adult and community education providers too.”

Mr O’Connor also called on private providers to add their voices and support to cracking down on “bad actors” “that sully your name and the name of the VET sector.”

“In return I promise that I will continue to stand up for your R(egistered)T(raining) O(rganisations) as well as TAFE, and the skills sector as a whole. “