Employers Need a Licence to Take On Apprentices; Fines for Mistreating Apprentices or Lying to Regulators
Education and Training Reform Amendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Topics
apprenticeships criminal penalties education employee rights employer licensing employment rights labor standards professional licensing vocational training worker protection
Introduced by: The Hon Gabrielle Williams MP (ALP); The Hon Lizzie Blandthorn MLC (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Bridget Vallence LIB
“The Education and Training Reform Amendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026 arises from recommendations of the Apprenticeships Taskforce that this Labor government has sat on for two years.”
Sonja Terpstra ALP
“I rise to make a contribution on the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026. This is a very important bill.”
Martha Haylett ALP
“I rise today to speak in strong support of the Education and Training ReformAmendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026. Idosonotonlyasa member of thishousebutassomeonewhoselifehasbeenshapedprofoundlyand permanentlybyour publiceducationsystemherein Victoria.”
Richard Welch LIB
“Just before I start, thank you to those opposite for being flexible and allowing me to see the first 10 minutes of the member for Croydon’s valedictory speech. He was just warming up when I had to leave, and it was very good. I rise to speak on the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, SchoolsandOtherMatters)Bill 2026.”
Gayle Tierney ALP
“I am pleased to rise this evening to speak on the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026. This bill is important as it will improve protections for apprentices and trainees, strengthen the permission-to-teach scheme and ensure schools remain safe places for teaching and learning.”
Meng Heang Tak ALP
“I am delighted to rise today to speak in support of the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters)Bill2026.Itis good to speakafterthe memberforMorwell,whohashisown experienceand perspective in this space.”
Sheena Watt ALP
“I rise today to speak in supportof the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill2026. This legislation really is about the hardworking people who build the future of our state. Our Labor government knows that a strong, thriving economy relies entirely on a skilled, supported and safe workforce.”
Brad Rowswell LIB
“I rise to address theEducation and Training Reform Amendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026. I do so as the shadow minister, the alternative Minister for Education, and I am grateful to be working with my colleague the member for Evelyn on this particular matter.”
Moira Deeming Famil
“I rise to oppose the Education and Training ReformAmendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026. This bill issupposedlyabout makingsuretradie apprentices arenot exploited and makingsurethatschools are safeforstudents andstaffand teachers, butitjustcould notbefurtherfromthetruth.”
Alison Marchant ALP
“I rise to speak on the Education and Training Reform Amendment(Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and OtherMatters) Bill 2026, and I thinkthis is a really important bill.”
Jacinta Ermacora ALP
“I am delighted to speak on the Education and Training ReformAmendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026. The Carroll Labor government is committed to ensuring the safety of all Victorians. Everyone has a right to go to work, training or school and be safe. This is even more important when we are talking aboutour youngpeople.”
“I rise to speak today on the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026. I would like to thank all members who have contributed to this debate and broadly to the bill. It strengthens protections for Victoria’s apprentices andtrainees.”
Roma Britnell LIB
“I rise to speak on the Education and Training ReformAmendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026. This bill establishes newregulatoryarchitecturefor apprenticeships and traineeships. It transfers responsibility from the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority to Workforce Inspectorate Victoria.”
Nina Taylor ALP
“I amjust going to pick up on a couple of matters that were raised by the opposition. The member for Evelyn is purported to have been verballing ministerial advisers from a briefing, which is not appropriate. I will say further that there is funding publicly announced and Wage Inspectorate Victoria is funded ongoing. That is just to refute some of the allegations made.”
“I also rise – but I will stick to the bill a little bit more than the previous member, who got a bit distracted – to speak on the Education and Training Reform Amendment(Apprenticeships,Traineeships,SchoolsandOtherMatters)Bill2026.Torefutesomeof those allegations made, we do believe there are some reasonable objectives in the bill.”
Matt Fregon ALP
“I am very excited to stand today and talk on the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026. If I can have your brief indulgence, Speaker, I am also excited because I have just come from talking to the Hawthorn Football Club and Gazey in Strangers. That was a bit of a fanboy moment. What do we say when Gazey is in Parliament?”
David Southwick LIB
“I rise to speak on the Education and Training Reform Amendment(Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill2026. This government is addicted to red tape, regulation and tax, and we have justseen it again. We have record numbers of apprenticeships that are down. We see scenarios in this state where trade apprenticeship commencements are down 11.”
Wayne Farnham LIB
“I am pleased to rise on the Education and Training ReformAmendment(Apprenticeships,Traineeships,SchoolsandOtherMatters)Bill2026.Speaking as a person who has employed a lot of apprentices over the years – I did through my construction career,asdidmyfatherbeforeme–ifthisbillcameforwardwhenIwasself-employed,Iwouldnearly stop employing apprentices.”
“I rise to support the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026.”
Lauren Kathage ALP
“I rise in support of the Education and Training Reform Amendment(Apprenticeships,Traineeships,SchoolsandOtherMatters)Bill2026.Inthecommunity that I represent, there are so many people who have built a good life through having a trade. That started with having an apprenticeship, and it is one of the first steps on a journey to what can be a fantastic life for you and your family.”
Paul Mercurio ALP
“I rise to give my contribution on the Education and Training ReformAmendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026, which goes toapprenticeships, traineeships,schools and other matters. I onlyhaveashorttimebefore lunch, so I would like to say how lucky are young people today?”