Workforce Australia Speech at Perth North Breakfast

I am truly pleased to be in this beautiful part of Perth. The story of Joondalup is one of building something modern and visionary. It was first conceptualised in the 1970 'Corridor for Perth' which planned Perth's expansion along five main transport corridors.

Of the chosen locations - Fremantle, Joondalup, Midland, Armadale and Rockingham - only one was so surprising that it caused a stir.

Joondalup.

The Canberra Times reported that the:

'... announcement has taken everybody by surprise - to the point where the conservationists have not yet gathered their wits.'

Of course, the history of this area dates back tens of thousands of years, but the City of Joondalup as we know it began with a single building.

The Shire of Wanneroo Administration Centre in Joondalup was officially opened by Premier Sir Charles Court in 1979. Only fourteen staff worked across the four storey building. There was no water supply or sewerage system, transport, shopping or housing development in the area.

But every day those fourteen staff walked down a rough limestone track, through the dust, to a building which had an average occupancy rate of 3.5 people to a floor. They walked past their earliest City of Joondalup neighbours back then - kangaroos, emus, rabbits, recreational shooters and operational limestone quarries.

It was hard to see the vision of the shiny new city they were working towards. But for the fourteen people who took that job, their work everyday brought them closer to a vision of what 'could be' rather than just what was. They were working to build the first fully-planned 'system city' outside the existing limits of one of Australia's state capitals.

Twenty years after the 'corridor' to Perth's North was first conceptualised, I experienced its reality. The Joondalup Line was opened between Perth station and Joondalup station on 20 December 1992. It was the first rail line built in Perth for over a century.

Premier Carmen Lawrence said that the:

'Government's investment in this project demonstrates our confidence in the future of Perth and its rapidly expanding northern corridor.'

I remember it well - I was there, riding the train with my grandmother on one of its first trips. Perth's north benefited from those who could imagine the opportunities, and face the challenges - whether they were in Parliament or a largely empty office building. They were looking at Joondalup not as it was then - full of challenges, with opportunities not yet fully realised - but as it could be. The opportunity to become Perth's northern capital and a thriving northern suburb because it was a city that had a plan for both the challenges of the present and the opportunities of the future. And we are still feeling the benefits today.

Local Jobs Program - our vision for the labour market

When our Government looks at our labour market, we do it in the same way. We want to deal with the immediate challenges in front of us, while knowing that we are readying Australia to capitalise on the opportunities of the future.

The Government has a vision for a labour market where workers, businesses and communities can thrive. Where everyone who wants a job can find one - without having to search too long. This was set out in the White Paper on Jobs and Opportunities.

Like planning a physical city, we have thought long and hard about how to capitalise on growth and opportunity. We have begun to invest in skilling and delivering the Government's ambition for employment services reform.

One focus area is improving how employment services better recognise and respond to local needs and community priorities.

Those people who want to work - or want to work more - and of local businesses who need staff.

As part of the next phase of employment services reform - in December last year, the Australian Government announced the extension of the Local Jobs Program. Extending it to 30 June 2027 and to the value of $62.6 million. This reflects the Government's commitment to place-based approaches and community partnerships.

Communities like here in Perth's north, where your vibrant local communities like Joondalup sound worlds away from their development just decades ago. The Local Jobs Program focuses on strengthening local connections to meet local workforce needs.

Initiatives like this one here today bring together businesses, community organisations and employment services. Thank you for getting involved and committing to make a difference in your community.

I would like to give a special mention to our employer representatives for your engagement with Workforce Australia and the Local Jobs Program. I would also like to acknowledge the collaborative efforts of the local Jobs Coordinator for Perth North, Jodie Dutton, and members of the local Taskforce - who made this event possible.

Western Australian labour market

Here in Western Australia, labour market conditions remain strong. Employment in our state has surged by 4.5 per cent since July last year, to stand at a record high of 1,641,800. Our participation rate stands at 69.1%, well above the 67.1% recorded nationally.

That means the need to invest in skills and workforce planning is critically important to the future of our State. We need to see that future metropolis, when we are standing on that dusty limestone track. We need to make sure we have the skills to build a future we are rapidly progressing towards.

Western Australian skills and free TAFE

Investing in the skills Western Australia needs is a key priority for the Australian Government.

In November 2024, more than half of Western Australian employment (54.2%) were in jobs for which VET is a key training pathway. These jobs accounted for a relatively large share of employment growth over the past year (50.9% of Western Australia's employment growth).

A key initiative of this Government is Free TAFE, supporting students by removing financial barriers to study in areas of high demand and skills need. The Australian Government invested over $69.5 million in Fee-Free TAFE in Western Australia over 2023 and 2024. We will invest a further $36.1 million from 2025 - 2026, including $9.38 million for the Fee-Free Construction places.

There have been over 70,200 student enrolments in Free TAFE courses in Western Australia. That is four and a half times the capacity of Arena Joondalup.

To help areas of high skills need and demand in Western Australia, Free TAFE has supported:

1. over 27,400 enrolments in the Care sector
2. over 11,400 enrolments in the Early Childhood Education and Care sector
3. over 7,800 enrolments in the Technology and Digital sector
4. over 4,000 enrolments in the Hospitality and Tourism sector

Over 2024 to 2026, 24,340 places will be available in Western Australia. That is enough to fill 78 train carriages like the one I travelled on. Rocketing towards a whole new world of opportunity.

These places will include the additional 2,140 Fee-Free TAFE and VET places for courses relevant to the construction sector. Quite literally making sure we are ready to build Australia's future.

Conclusion

It is an exciting time to work together to build the workforce WA needs for the future. I am confident the extension of the Local Jobs Program and investment in skills will help communities address local workforce shortages.

I encourage you to continue to be active in these local networks. I encourage you to keep working towards the completion of this city we are building, and to keep the train on the tracks when it comes to getting there.

Thank you.