VET News

Ministers Reset Negotiations Around a New National Skills Agreement

Federal and State Skills and Training Ministers met to reset negotiations on the National Skills Agreement, and strengthen Australia’s TAFE and training sector.  Ministers in attendance included: 

• Minister for Skills and Training, the Hon Brendan O'Connor MP
• Western Australia Education and Training Minister, the Hon Sue Ellery MLC
• Queensland Minister for Training and Skills Development, the Hon Di Farmer MP
• Victorian Minister for Higher Education, Training and Skills, the Hon Gayle Tierney MLC
• New South Wales Minister for Skills and Training, the Hon Alister Henskens SC MP
• South Australian Minister for Education, Training and Skills, the Hon Blair Boyer MP
• Tasmanian Minister for Education, Children and Youth, the Hon Roger Jaensch MP
• ACT Minister for Skills, Mr Chris Steel MLA
• Northern Territory Minister for Business, Jobs and Training, the Hon Paul Kirby M

Ministers agreed that cooperation on strengthening the skills sector is critical to addressing skills shortages and creating a more productive economy, and undertook to work together in a genuine partnership, and develop joint ambitions for our skills system.

All jurisdictions confront skills and labour shortages across multiple industries and workforce pressures.

 According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Australia is experiencing the second most severe labour shortage in the developed world.

Nine out of ten jobs of the future will require a vocational education and training (VET) qualification or university degree. 

The wide-ranging discussion made it clear that it is critical the Australian workforce is equipped with the right skills now and into the future.

Ministers committed to working in partnership to continue to grow the pipeline of skilled workers and prioritise skills reform through a collaborative and coordinated negotiation process.

Full Ministers Media Centre Release.

Date posted Jul 28, 2022