Free Tafe Bill 2024

The majority voted in favour of a motion to read the bill for a second time. This means that they voted to agree with the bill's main idea and so can now consider it in greater detail.

What is the bill's main idea?

According to the bill digest (which is a document created by the parliamentary library):

The Free TAFE Bill 2024 (the Bill) would facilitate the ongoing provision of financial assistance to the states and territories (the states), towards delivering Free TAFE and vocational education and training (VET) places, from 2027 onwards.

The Bill enshrines into legislation policy relating to the Fee-Free TAFE program, which has delivered Fee-Free TAFE places since the beginning of 2023.

Through Fee-Free TAFE, the Government, together with the states, funds training places related to areas of local and national priority—with priority given to specific groups who experience social and economic exclusion—thereby allowing for these places to be free for students (dependent upon the terms of the agreement between the Commonwealth and the relevant state).

The Bill sets out the parameters for funding ‘Free TAFE’ (FT) places through the states, the requirement for a FT agreement to be in place between the Commonwealth and the states, and key matters that the agreements should contain.

The Bill includes a requirement for the Commonwealth minister responsible for skills and training to consult with the Ministerial Council made up of respective state ministers and table a consultation report, prior to legislating any amendments to the Act.

State governments, several unions and TAFE organisations have welcomed the Bill as providing ongoing certainty for a program that they consider reduces financial barriers for qualifications and assists in addressing skills shortages.

The Coalition will not support the Bill, and several major industry groups oppose it. Key areas of criticism or concern are that such a program should not be legislated, particularly without proper evaluation and detailed costings, and that it priorities TAFE over other VET providers to the detriment of student choice and the sector.

The Bill was considered by the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills which reported on 20 November 2024. The Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee is due to report on 27 February 2025.