Vocational Education Minister Michaelia Cash has defended the coalition's handling of the training sector after the government announced the first major review of it in more than four decades.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the review into the VET sector on Wednesday night, telling business leaders in Canberra he wants to ensure students are getting the right skill sets.
Labor's Doug Cameron argues the coalition government has torn the sector to shreds, blaming them for cutting $3 billion from vocational education and training since taking office.
"The Productivity Commission has called this system a "mess". Isn't it clear the mess is of your making?" he asked Senator Cash in question time.
But the minister took aim at Senator Cameron for talking down the VET system.
"It is a world-class system," she told parliament.
The inquiry - which will be the first national review of vocational education in 40 years - will run for three months, before the next federal budget in April.
It will be led by former New Zealand tertiary education minister Steven Joyce.
Labor announced a review of post-school training, including the VET sector, in February this year.
Senator Cameron, the opposition's spokesman for skills and training, has no confidence in the coalition's review.
"This government, this incompetent government that has been cutting funding, destroying the VET system, destroying the TAFE system, have no credibility," he told reporters.
"And why we would need a New Zealand Tory to deal with that system is beyond me."
Senator Cash pointed to legislation which cleared parliament on Thursday to have Australians who copped huge debts from dodgy vocational education wiped.
"We have cleaned up your mess," Senator Cash said.
The government is also hoping to encourage more employers to take on adult apprentices by offering one-off payments of $4000 to those who offer jobs to those aged 21 to 24 years.
At the moment, the adult apprentices support payment is only available to employers who take on apprentices aged 25 or above.
The change will come into effect from mid-2019 and cost the government $27.7 million.
