Labor’s Tanya Plibersek set to announce $3m funding for trade training centre in Perth’s north-east

Labor has promised $3 million towards a trade training centre in Perth’s north-eastern suburbs as senior frontbencher Tanya Plibersek hits the campaign trail in Perth. The funding commitment, to officially be announced by the Sydney MP on Friday, is designed to kickstart a hub at Ellenbrook Secondary College for practical skills training and certification. It would focus on construction trades and hospitality — two key sectors hit with skills shortages across WA in the pandemic. Ms Plibersek said the commitment would fund surveys, detailed planning and site consultancy to turn the project into reality. “This local commitment builds on Labor’s plans for education including 20,000 extra university places, 465,000 fee-free TAFE places, and making early learning cheaper for working families,” she said. “Hands-on training is absolutely essential to helping young people in WA transition into the workforce.” The shadow education minister touched down in WA on Thursday afternoon and campaigned alongside fellow Labor MP Anne Aly in Cowan. She is expected to make the announcement with Labor’s candidate for Hasluck Tania Lawrence and then hold a sundowner with Pearce candidate Tracey Roberts and the party’s WA branch at Mindarie marina in the evening. Ms Roberts, City of Wanneroo mayor, is in a battle against new Liberal candidate Linda Aitken for the northern electorate of Pearce, held by former attorney-general Christian Porter who is quitting politics. Ms Plibersek had been an Opposition leadership contender after Labor’s last Federal election loss under Bill Shorten in 2019 but withdrew from the contest because of family responsibilities. In a worrying sign for the Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, the former deputy Labor leader had a higher preferred PM rating than he did. Almost half of all women in WA wanted Ms Plibersek as prime minister, according to a Painted Dog poll of 801 people which was published by The West Australian in December. The seat of Pearce in Perth’s north-east has already received significant attention before the election starter’s gun has even been fired, with Defence Minister Peter Dutton visiting Mr Porter and the RAAF airbase in late March to announce a hefty Defence funding package.