Welcome Home Andy Lamont

Watch the video of this speech on my Facebook page.In March this year, I spoke in this chamber about Andy Lamont, an intrepid adventurer from my electorate of McPherson, on the Gold Coast. Andy Lamont is a 54-year-old husband, father and grandfather from the southern Gold Coast. A pest controller by trade he also holds an honours law degree. In Oct... read more »

Summing up speech - Education Legislation Amendment (Provider Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2017

I will start by thanking those who made considered and sensible contributions to the debate today. There were, however, a number of remarks made by some of the members opposite that I would actually like to correct by putting some facts clearly on the record. The Turnbull government is clearly committed to vocational education and skills. I wo... read more »

Welcome Event - Community Colleges Australia Annual Conference

Thank you, David, for your kind welcome and for the opportunity to open your annual conference this evening.  I note that the theme for this year is Community Education: Investing in our Future. It’s a powerful sentiment… and I couldn’t agree more about the valuable role education plays in people’s lives.Of course, as Assistant Minister f... read more »

'Skilling Australia: Future Directions for VET' - Committee for Economic Development in Australia

Good afternoon, and thank you for your welcome.Firstly, I want to recognise the efforts CEDA is making to examine, improve and promote vocational education and training in Australia.Your substantial reports and analysis on VET are a valuable contribution to the lively conversations taking place around our country about the priorities, direction and... read more »

Keynote Speech - French Beauty Academy July 2017 Graduation

Thank you, Sherelle, for your kind welcome and for inviting me to speak at this graduation ceremony. I was honoured to open the French Beauty Academy’s Robina campus back in 2013, and it’s a real pleasure to be with you now to recognise all your hard work and achievements -- students and trainers alike.    First, let me say congratul... read more »

Opening of the 2017 AMSI Winter School

I am honoured to be invited here today to open AMSI’s 2017 Winter School on the Computational Foundations of Data Science. It’s also a pleasure to be back here at the Queensland University of Technology from where I graduated as a Mechanical Engineer in 1983.I especially welcome all the students and early career researchers here today – it’s g... read more »

Opening of the Inaugural 2017 VET in Schools Forum

This is a terrific occasion -- an inaugural gathering of people dedicated to advancing vocational education and training in schools.I note that we have teachers, trainers, industry representatives, work placement providers, training package developers and members of education authorities here in the room.You are doing the creative thinking, the adv... read more »

Constituency Statement: Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter service

Recently I had the opportunity to visit the Gold Coast base of the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter service and meet some of the wonderful crew members there. Over South-East Queensland, home of some of Australia's best beaches, attracting millions of locals and tourists each year, the rescue helicopter service has been the eye in the sky for 4... read more »

Gold Coast Trades College Graduation

Good afternoon. It’s a real honour for me to be here with you for your graduation as both the local federal member and the Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills.   Congratulations on having completed your training – and congratulations on choosing vocational education and training as part of your study. What you... read more »

Australian Hairdressing Industry Conference Speech

It’s a pleasure to be here with you today at the Australian Hairdressing Industry Conference.Hairdressing and hairstyling are services that nearly everyone uses at some point in their lives – whether they’re a toddler, a retiree, or somewhere in between.I am just one of the many enthusiastic consumers of your services. Yours is a profession of... read more »

The Education Legislation Amendment (Provider Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2017 Second Reading Speech

The Education Legislation Amendment (Provider Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2017 gives effect to greater student protection measures, and strengthens the arrangements for governing quality in the higher education and international education sectors. This Bill is a further plank in the Turnbull Government’s ongoing efforts to protect stude... read more »

Appropriations Bill Speech

I rise today to speak on Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2017-2018 and Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2017-2018, which deliver the government's 2017-2018 federal budget. It is a unique budget in that much of the debate and commentary has been fixated on its nature rather than its content. It has been characterised, rather than an... read more »

MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE - Schools

Whilst I am delighted to be speaking on today's MPI and the coalition government's reforms to school education, I am disappointed that I am not here discussing vocational education and that we are not having an MPI on vocational education—  Mr Husic interjecting—  The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Mr Coulton ): The member for Ch... read more »

Speeches to G20 Labour and Employment Conference – BAD NEUENAHR, GERMANY May 18 & 19

LEAD REMARKS at the working breakfast on youth employment & quality apprenticeshipsThank you chair for the opportunity to speak this morning.I would like to highlight some of the strategies Australia has implemented since 2015 to improve youth employment outcomes, and work towards the G20 youth goal.While we have seen some improvements to labou... read more »

Higher Education Support Legislation Amendment (A More Sustainable, Responsive and Transparent Higher Education System) Bill 2017

The Higher Education Support Legislation Amendment (A More Sustainable, Responsive and Transparent Higher Education System) Bill 2017 gives effect to decisions announced in the budget that reform the ways in which the Australian government supports higher education.  It will support the Australian government's goal for a stronger, more sustain... read more »

Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017 - Second Reading

On 2 May, the Turnbull government announced an extra $18.6 billion in recurrent schools funding on top of already record and growing funding for Australian schools over the next 10 calendar years. This will bring our total 10-year investment to a record $242.3 billion from 2018 to 2027.  The government is committed to ensuring that this additi... read more »

CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS - McPherson Electorate: McPherson Community Achiever Awards

This week is National Volunteer Week, and I thought it fitting that in today's debate I acknowledge the tremendous job that so many volunteers do in my southern Gold Coast community. These are the people who are the backbone of various charities, sporting clubs, community and advocacy groups, RSLs, chambers of commerce and other social and support ... read more »

POST-BUDGET INDUSTRY BREAKFAST KEYNOTE ADDRESS SKILLING AUSTRALIANS FUND

Good Morning and can I say what a great pleasure it is to be with you this morning.I thank you for inviting me here to talk about the new way forward for vocational education and training announced in last night’s federal budget.The Turnbull Government has made an unprecedented, ongoing commitment to skilling Australians. We are committed to ensuri... read more »

MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE - Schools

  It is back-to-school time for Labor. They cannot do the maths. Their comprehension ability is clearly limited, and that has been reinforced by the member for Sydney in her dissertation on the Quality Schools reforms that have been widely supported throughout the sector; their support is widespread. I will come back to all the support and go ... read more »

National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment (Annual Registration Charge) Bill 2017 - Second Reading

Today I introduce the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment (Annual Registration Charge) Bill 2017 and its companion bill, the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Charges) Amendment (Annual Registration Charge) Bill 2017.  The government is committed to the vital role vocational education and training... read more »

GOVERNOR GENERAL'S SPEECH - Address-in-Reply

Each of us comes to this place with ideals, values, goals and an earnest desire to contribute to the future of our nation. Read the maiden speech of any member of this House or any Senator, and you will see those hopes and expectations in their purest form. You will notice that these speeches are devoid of the vitriol, game-playing and insincerity ... read more »

Education and Other Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2017

I would like to thank all of the members have contributed to this debate on the Education and Other Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2017.   There is no greater defender of vocational education in this place than me. There is no greater of vocational education than the Turnbull government. There have been a number of fairly wild inaccur... read more »

MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE - Schools

What I would like to do at the start is put some context around this debate and to make a few things abundantly clear. Labor made unfunded, unbudgeted promises in the lead-up to the 2013 election. Those promises remain unfunded under Labor's current policies. The Labor government lost the 2013 election, which was a somewhat predictable outcome give... read more »

CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS - Mr Andy Lamont

  I would like to inform the House of a constituent in my electorate of McPherson who encapsulates the spirit of adventure and generosity that Australians have become renowned for. His name is Andy Lamont, and he is a 58-year-old grandfather from the suburb of Clear Island Waters. But he has been facing anything but clear waters as he att... read more »

INDONESIAN AUSTRALIA BUSINESS WEEK 2017

It’s my pleasure to be here for the 2017 Indonesian Australia Business Week.  Looking around the room I can see representatives from government, industry and the skills training sector from Australia and Indonesia. It’s a fantastic forum for us to consider the future of Australia-Indonesia collaboration on vocational educatio... read more »

CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS - McPherson Electorate: Lions Clubs International

I would like to inform the House about an important event coming up in my electorate of McPherson and indeed all electorates around Australia. This Saturday, 4 March, marks 100 years of Lions Clubs International, serving communities around the world, including my own on the Gold Coast. It is an ideal time to acknowledge the tireless volunteer work ... read more »

MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE - Child Care

  I am delighted to be the adult in the room while we talk about childcare reforms. I know that I will shortly be joined by my colleagues here, as we talk about the reforms that the Turnbull government is making to child care—the most comprehensive reforms to child care. I will just start by giving a very brief summary of some of these reforms... read more »

Private Members' Business: Higher Education

  It is my pleasure to start today by congratulating all of those students who have taken the opportunity to continue their education, whether that be through vocational education or through to universities. Congratulations! I think that in continuing your education you have certainly chosen wisely. It is true that we do have a record number ... read more »

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS; Disability Services

  I thank the member for Gilmore for this motion, acknowledging those with a disability and those who care for a person or people with a disability. When it comes to the vulnerable and the disadvantaged, Australia is a caring nation and that fact is reflected in the work of this parliament in its efforts to improve the lives of those with a di... read more »

Education and Other Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2017

I move: That this bill be now read a second time. VET Student Loans Ombudsman Student loans to pay for tuition fees provide important financial support for vocational education and training students who would otherwise be unable to afford to study because of upfront fees. Most training providers... read more »

Gold Coast 101 Update

In November last year, I informed the House of an ambitious project launched in my home city of the Gold Coast called the GC101 campaign. The campaign set out to sign up 101 local school leavers as apprentices in just seven weeks. As the local federal member and the Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills I was proud to be part of th... read more »

Private Members' Business: Schools

I am delighted to be up here, speaking on this motion. I commend the speeches that have been made by my colleagues the member for Forde and the member for Berowra. They certainly put into context the debate that we are having today. It is important, though, that I also put on the record, in support of my colleagues' and the government's position, t... read more »

MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE: Education

Mrs Andrews: I have a message for the mums and dads of Australia, and that very simple message is that your kids will get a better quality education under a coalition government than you will ever get for your kids under a Labor government.                 Honourable member... read more »