Opposition leader Peter Dutton has announced a $260 million plan to build 12 new technical colleges across Australia, aiming to steer more high school students into trades and vocational careers.
The initiative echoes a similar policy from former Prime Minister John Howard and is positioned as an alternative to the Labor government's Free TAFE program, which the Coalition has signaled it may cut. The proposed colleges would allow students to complete apprenticeships while finishing high school, combining academic and vocational training. The plan is part of the Coalition's early campaign promises ahead of the 2025 federal election, with a focus on addressing skills shortages and boosting the trades workforce.
One of the first colleges is slated for the marginal Labor-held seat of Paterson in New South Wales.
.@783W85NLibertarian1yr1Y
@ISIDEWITH1yr1Y
@ISIDEWITH1yr1Y
Coalition promises to build 12 new technical colleges across Australia
The Coalition says it will build 12 new technical colleges to provide school students with the opportunity to develop in-demand skills. Students are enrolled in a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship, as well as completing academic, information technology and business courses that lead to a Year 12 certificate.
@ISIDEWITH1yr1Y
Election 2025: Peter Dutton channels John Howard in $260m plan to train high school tradies
Mr Dutton on Thursday will announce a John Howard-inspired May 3 election commitment to establish a network of Australian technical colleges in the battleground NSW Hunter Labor-held electorate of Paterson, which Meryl Swanson holds on a 2.6 per cent margin.
Join in on more popular conversations.
