Bill
Free TAFE Bill 2024
passed, as at 2025-03-27. Skills and Training portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Skills and Training
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2024-11-07
- second reading — 2024-11-07
- second reading — 2024-11-19
- second reading — 2024-11-20
- second reading — 2024-11-21
- second reading — 2024-11-25
- second reading — 2025-02-04
- second reading — 2025-02-05
- second reading — 2025-02-05
- third reading — 2025-02-05
- introduced — 2025-02-06
- second reading — 2025-02-06
- second reading — 2025-03-26
- third reading — 2025-03-26
- passed — 2025-03-26
- royal assent — 2025-03-27
Divisions
- The majority voted against an amendment that would have added the words below to the usual second reading motion, which is "*that the bill be read a second time*" (parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill). In other words, they voted to keep the usual second reading motion unchanged. ### Amendment text > *That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:* > > *"whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House:* > > *(1) notes that if the Government can legislate its promises on Fee-Free TAFE right now, it can also legislate to wipe student debt; and* > > *(2) calls on the Government to legislate its promise to wipe 20 per cent of student debt and raise the repayment threshold now, not wait for an election"* — 2025-02-05, House of Representatives: negative, ayes 5, noes 59
- Free Tafe Bill 2024 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea — 2025-02-05, House of Representatives: affirmative, ayes 83, noes 54
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the Bills Digest; not the record, as at 2024-11-07.
The bill would give the Commonwealth ongoing funding to states for free TAFE and vocational education places.
Payments would be made under the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009 through agreements that set terms and conditions.
The bill aims to support at least 100,000 free TAFE places each year, starting from 1 January 2027.
- The bill provides ongoing Commonwealth financial support to states for free TAFE places.
- It requires states to report enrolment and completion numbers to the Commonwealth.
- The minister must consult the Skills and Workforce Ministerial Council before amending the Act.
States, TAFE and other vocational education providers, and students experiencing economic disadvantage.
Sources
em
digest
billhome
frl act