Creating more jobs and opportunities

Jobs and wages

Real wages are growing again. And with our tax cuts, Australians are keeping more of what they earn.

We’ve delivered historic pay rises for child care and aged care workers, helping bring the gender pay gap to its lowest level on record.

We’ve backed 3 pay rises in a row for 2.6 million minimum and award wage workers.

And more than 1.1 million jobs have been created since we came to government. That’s more jobs created in one term of government than ever before.

Free TAFE

Free TAFE is changing lives. There have been around 600,000 enrolments so far.

And we will make free TAFE permanent.

Whether it’s child care or cybersecurity, accounting or aged care – with free TAFE, you can train for the job you want without worrying about the cost.

Uni students

Going to uni should open up opportunities, not leave you with a lifetime of debt.

That’s why we cut $3 billion in student debt for 3 million Australians, and made sure loans never grow faster than wages into the future. Next, we’ll wipe a further 20% off student debt.

We’ve also set up the new Commonwealth Prac Payment to help students with the cost of living. That means if you’re studying to be a teacher, nurse, midwife or social worker, you can get paid while doing your placement.