❓ Question addresses the Cook Labor government's fee-free TAFE initiative and its impact on skilled workforce development in the building and construction sector. The Minister's answer highlights investments, increased enrolments, and criticises the previous Liberal-National government's TAFE fee policies.

TAFE89.Mr Mark Folkardto theMinister for Skills and TAFE:I refer to the Cook Labor government's commitment to building a skilled and productive workforce. Can the minister update the house on how fee-free TAFE is supporting more Western Australians to gain quality jobs in the building and construction sector?

Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson replied:I thank the member for the question. TAFE is back for 2026! We on this side of the Parliament love TAFE. Weare very proud of our TAFE and we are very proud of our record investment in TAFE, particularly free TAFE. We have invested $100 million to retain fee-free and low-fee TAFE this year because we know that it is critical to the economy. It will deliver our priorities of jobs, health and housing, and deliver the tradies, the workers and the healthcare workers that we need to deliver on those priorities for Western Australians. We cannot build the homes without a skilled, capable workforce.This year we are targeting the construction workforce. We have invested $22 million to make another seven construction courses free for those intending to become bricklayers, cabinetmakers, carpenters, electricians, painters, plasterers, plumbers and tilers—many of the trades that we need to deliver housing in Western Australia. Enrolments for this year's fee-free construction courses alone are up by 57%, with more than 2,360 enrolments. We are delivering support for our construction workforce, including $4 million through the Building and Construction Training Fund to expand training capacity for private registered training organisations, as well as supporting our TAFEs. We have invested $3.8 million to introduce the adult apprenticeship incentive, which is supporting 400 apprentices in the industry, and $25 million to expand the group training organisation subsidy, which supports 1,000 places across the GTOs. We have increased travel and accommodation allowances to support regional apprentices and trainees. That is more bricklayers, more plumbers and more plasterers building the houses that we need.Opposition members claim that they care about housing and construction.Ms Libby Mettaminterjected.The Speaker:Member for Vasse!Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson:They claim to care about housing and construction, but when they were in government, they increased TAFE fees by 510% percent.Ms Libby Mettaminterjected.Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson:The former Liberal–National governmentincreased TAFE fees by 510% and shut down the pipeline of workers.Ms Libby Mettaminterjected.The Speaker:Member for Vasse!Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson:Mr Speaker, I am not taking the interjections of the member for Vasse.The former Liberal–National government shut down the pipeline of workers to build our houses. That is what the Liberal Party did—it shut it down. Its record is clear. Let me remind the chamber what happened to construction courses under the former Liberal–National government. Fees for plumbing were hiked by 66%, fees for wall and ceiling lining were hiked by 66%, fees for bricklaying and blocklaying went up by 66%, fees for solid plastering went up by 66%, fees for construction pathways went up by 72%, fees for civil construction went up by 176% and fees for a certificate II in building and construction were hiked by a staggering 210%. The Liberals and Nationals are a risk to our economy. They shut down the pipeline of workers and they shut down opportunities for Western Australians.Several members interjected.The Speaker:Members!Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson:They shut down opportunities for families to send their kids to learn a trade to earn a good wage. This government will support families and their kids to earn opportunities and a good wage in the future. TAFE