Free TAFE Now Permanent   
27 March 2025 Australian Education Union.
The Australian Education Union (AEU) has today welcomed the passing of the Free TAFE Bill (2024), which will be life changing for TAFE students, teachers and for sectors of the economy facing skill shortages.

AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe acknowledged all federal parliamentarians who supported this legislation, which means from 2027, there will be a permanent 100,000 Free TAFE places a year.

“The Albanese Government’s Free TAFE program has changed the lives of TAFE teachers and students, is addressing skills shortages, and provides significant benefits to our economy,” Ms Haythorpe said.

“Making Free TAFE permanent provides certainty to TAFE teachers and students, and ensures that quality vocational education delivered by TAFE the public provider, is available to all Australians.”

Ms Haythorpe said it was disappointing that the Coalition voted against the legislation, in a clear indication of their plans to cut Free TAFE should they win the election.

“It’s clear the Coalition do not support Free TAFE, and we will see the end of hundreds of thousands of Free TAFE places should Peter Dutton become Prime Minister,” Ms Haythorpe said.   

“We have had the Shadow Assistant Treasurer stating on Sky “we won’t do Free TAFE” confirming they’d cut $1.5 billion from TAFE. The Shadow Assistant Minister for Education has flagged the idea of cutting Commonwealth funding for Free TAFE in a Senate Committee. And the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has called free TAFE a ‘flop’, adding further that, ‘a key principle and tenet of the Liberal Party is if you don't pay for something, you don't value it’.”

“To lose Free TAFE would be devastating for students and teachers, but also for Australia’s economy and for the industries in desperate need of skilled workers.”

“With the federal election looming, voters need to be aware of the ramifications of a Dutton Government. Make no mistake, a Dutton Government will cut Free TAFE.”   

ENDS

Everyone who paid for it before must be feeling pretty ripped off ehh?