Trainee tradies waived through

TENS of millions of dollars in debt owed by thousands of vocational students will be waived by the Morrison Government as it plans to embark on a tradie recruitment drive.

Up to 6000 students who were left with useless or incomplete qualifications because of dodgy providers will be rescued by taxpayers, amid a push to encourage parents to get their kids in a trade.

Skills and Vocational Education Minister Michaelia Cash said tradies would be needed to help drive Australia’s prosperity.

“One of the things that we do need to ensure is that we give vocational education back the recognition it deserves,” Senator Cash said.

“(Bosses) are looking for employees who have the right skills on day one, (and vocational education) gives you the practical, on-the-job experience you need.

“When you meet highly skilled tradies ... they never went to university, but they are now highly successful small business people who earn a significant amount of money. It all began with a VET qualification.

“One of my roles is very much now creating strong recognition of the critical role that VET has in ensuring that our economy prospers.”

Meanwhile, the Government introduced legislation into Parliament yesterday to help VET FEE-HELP students who were left with unfair debt.

“Under Labor’s VET FEEHELP loan scheme, some unscrupulous training providers and their agents targeted vulnerable or unsuitable people who were lured ... into signing on to a course,” Senator Cash said. “The program saddled them with debt and offered very little in return.”

She said that she wanted parents to know that if their children choose a VET course, they will receive “the highest standard of education”.