Labor has announced plans to restore funding to the TAFE and university sector, which it says the federal government has torn out. 

The Opposition yesterday announced a $1.1 billion plan to boost the number of places at tertiary education, including 465,000 free TAFE positions.

Deputy Leader of the Labor Party Richard Marles told Spencer Howson there are 85,000 less trainees and apprentices today than there were in 2013.

“This is the policy that will fix it,” he said. “Any person studying a course in an area of skills shortage will be able to do that for free.”

Mr Marles said the policy will push a “change in mindset”, where TAFE is restored as a first option for school-leavers.

“It shouldn’t be a second option.

“At the end of it, there’s a really good job, which pays well and will give you a good life.”

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