Add Category
Labor has promised to make 100,000 fee-free TAFE places available every year if the federal government wins re-election.
Since coming to power in 2022, the federal government has delivered 180,000 fee-free TAFE places, with another 300,000 to be offered over three years from 2024.
At a rally to party faithful in Adelaide, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese listed his government's achievements, and detailed the party's first major election commitments.
His comments were delivered to rounds of applause by supporters, with several set up holding Labor placards in the background behind him.
He said the government's fee-free TAFE program had exceeded expectations and brought 508,000 enrolments in courses in priority areas, including disability, aged care, early childhood education and construction.
"I am proud to announce our government will lock in free TAFE and make it permanent nationwide," Mr Albanese told the crowd.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a Labor rally in Adelaide, November 3 2024. (ABC News: Briana Fiore)
The pseudo-campaign launch follows announcements on Saturday and on Sunday morning that the federal government would slash university HECS debts by 20 per cent and raise the income threshold that loan repayments would begin at if it wins the next election.
That announcement was the first major election commitment made by Labor, and Education Minister Jason Clare told Sky News it would be the first bill a re-elected Labor government would introduce to parliament.
Mr Albanese made his case to the Labor crowd for a second term of government.
"No one held back and no-one left behind. That principle has guided me my whole life. I have never lost sight of that and never forgotten the people we are here to serve," Mr Albanese said.
"That is why my colleagues and I work every day to make a positive difference to people's lives and why we are so determined to win the election next year."
Labor's attempt to reset the political debate follows a week of intense scrutiny over a claim Mr Albanese solicited flight upgrades from former Qantas boss Alan Joyce while in the transport portfolio.
Mr Albanese has flatly denied that he ever contacted anyone at Qantas to seek a free flight upgrade.