VET News

National Skills Agreement on Hold

The nation's VET sector has this year been awaiting the release of the National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development (NASWD).   After states and territories rejected the newly proposed agreement, the federal government has paused negotiations whilst it seeks to re-examine the arrangement  to ensure it brings about genuine, significant reform.

The Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O’Connor said during an interview last week that the government had paused the process and would now work towards an improved agreement.

"My aim will be to try and get all governments agreeing with our ideas about moving forward under the national agreement. And in the meantime, we have to make sure we maintain funding, because 1 July is very close, so therefore need to provide some certainty in the vocational space. 

But we do need to bring about genuine, significant reform that will be in order to supply the skills we need in the labour market.  And we need to get - well, if not unanimity, we need to get a general consensus around the agreement. "

Read the Minister's full interview below.

Interview - Sky News Afternoon Agenda - Minister's Media Centre Release - 20 June 2022

Date posted Jun 30, 2022