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Free TAFE courses will become available to all Victorians if the Labor government is re-elected.
Prospective students will be able to enrol in a free course regardless of their prior skills or qualifications, Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Monday.
An extra two million Victorians are expected to become eligible for the free course under the changes.
The state government will also invest up to $170 million to build new TAFE campuses at Sunbury and Melton and improve existing sites across the state.
“This is all about making sure that our students have got the best equipment, the best facilities to do that best learning,” Mr Andrews told reporters on Monday.
The open eligibility will apply to the current list of free TAFE courses and any new courses added to the program in the future.
Victorians began casting their ballots for the state election on Monday but wet weather and printing issues have impacted some early voting centres.
Early polling will operate from 8am to 6pm until the day before the November 26 election.
However, 21 metropolitan early voting centres were not expected to open their doors until noon due to ballot paper printing delays and wet weather.
The Victorian Electoral Commission is preparing for more than 50 per cent of the state’s 4.4 million enrolled voters to cast their ballot before election day.
It comes as a new poll predicts the Labor party will win its third consecutive term of government.
The RedBridge poll of 1189 people, reported in the Herald Sun on Monday, showed Labor ahead of the coalition 53.5 to 46.5 on a two-party preferred basis.
But Labor may not reach a majority of 45 seats, the poll suggests, with a hung parliament possible.
Mr Andrews has repeatedly said he would not do any deals with the Greens or independents if Labor falls short of a majority government.
During their official campaign launch events on Sunday, both major promised power bill relief.
Mr Andrews promised another round of the $250 power-saving bonus in March if Labor is re-elected, along with at least 6000 apprentices and trainees to be hired under a re-established State Electricity Commission and a $207 million package for specialist schools.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy promised a coalition government would cut up to $235 from household electricity bills by scrapping supply charges for the first half of 2023.
New gas projects in Victoria would also be quarantined to supply only the state under another new coalition election policy.
He was spruiking the promises again on Monday.
“It is a clear and simple and responsible way to reduce people’s energy bills,” Mr Guy told reporters on Monday.”
“Energy bills are going through the roof in terms of cost. We all know that… so we’ve got to do everything we can to provide Victoria the relief that they deserve.”
The October federal budget forecast a 56 per cent rise in electricity prices in the next 18 months, while gas prices are expected to increase by 40 per cent.
Australian Associated Press
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