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…

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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 plays in ensuring Australia has the skilled workforce…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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 education and training. It comes at a…

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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…

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