National Reconstruction Fund

The National Reconstruction Fund is the first step in Labor’s plan to rebuild Australia’s industrial base.

Australia has suffered nearly a decade of policy drift since the Liberals goaded the car industry to leave. We rank dead last in the OECD when it comes to manufacturing self-sufficiency.

We need to revive our ability to make world-class products and, in the process, create secure well-paid jobs for Australians.

The $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund will support projects that create secure well-paid jobs, drive regional development, and invest in our national sovereign capability, broadening and diversifying Australia’s economy.

Skills and Training

Some employers are struggling to find enough skilled workers - from carers and cooks to electricians and early childhood educators. And Australians are feeling it. Frankly, that's what happens when you cut funding for TAFE and apprenticeships for a decade.

Our first budget is investing in 480,000 fee-free TAFE and training places to skill up more Australians for better paying jobs. And we're upgrading TAFEs so students have access to the latest facilities that'll help them learn best.

We’ve also provided funding for 20,000 additional university places for disadvantaged Australians. It’s an investment in our greatest resource: our people.

And to make sure we’re providing training in the areas employers need now and in the future, we’ve set up a new advisory body - Jobs and Skills Australia.

NBN

In Labor’s first budget, we announced we’re upgrading more than 1.5 million businesses and households to full-fibre NBN access. It’ll mean better opportunities for businesses in rural communities.

Because Australians deserve access to high-speed internet whether they’re logging in from the bush or the suburbs.