What the next government should do in its first 100 days to start to address sector issues.

I asked GPT what should be done in the first 100 days of the next government.

Here is word for word, the request & the response.

Given the issues in AUS VET, we're coming up with a list of what the new government should do in its first 100 days to start to address sector issues. Please give me a list of 50 actions the government could do in its first 100 days - order in terms of items likely to make the most impact first.

Here’s a ranked list of 50 actions the new Australian Government could take in its first 100 days to address issues in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, prioritised by likely impact:

Top 10 – Immediate High-Impact Reforms

1. Freeze all ASQA regulatory fees for 12 months while conducting an independent review of ASQA’s regulatory approach.
2. Mandate ASQA to prioritise regulatory consistency by establishing a binding regulatory framework that ensures predictable, transparent decision-making.
3. Fast-track the review of the new Standards for RTOs and revise any unworkable components before enforcement.
4. Establish an Independent VET Ombudsman to handle RTO complaints against ASQA and other regulators, ensuring fair and accountable regulation.
5. Introduce an urgent funding uplift for TAFE, private, and not-for-profit providers delivering priority skills training (e.g., construction, aged care, early childhood education).
6. Review and overhaul the VET Student Loans (VSL) scheme to expand access, increase funding caps, and reduce administrative burden on RTOs.
7. Suspend the ASQA self-assurance compliance model and return to a clear, evidence-based audit framework until proper consultation is completed.
8. Simplify Training Package development and approval by reducing bureaucratic delays and allowing more industry-led innovation in training delivery.
9. Mandate a maximum ASQA audit response time of 30 days, preventing long regulatory delays that cripple RTOs and students.
10. Require TAFE and public providers to be held to the same compliance standards as private RTOs, ensuring a level playing field.

Next 10 – Structural and Policy Changes

1. Establish an independent Skills Australia advisory body to set skills priorities based on industry demand, not political cycles.
2. Reduce compliance reporting burdens on RTOs by streamlining AVETMISS data reporting and eliminating unnecessary duplications.
3. Introduce an RTO regulatory appeal process with independent review for unfair ASQA decisions.
4. Guarantee equal funding for private and not-for-profit RTOs in government contracts where they meet quality benchmarks.
5. Scrap "tick and flick" online courses and reintroduce stronger quality controls for online-only delivery.
6. Fund a national VET marketing campaign to boost public perception of vocational careers as equal to university pathways.
7. Mandate employer consultation in all Training Package development to ensure real-world skill alignment.
8. Overhaul apprenticeship support services to reduce dropout rates and improve completion rates.
9. Implement stronger student protection measures against poor-quality providers without adding regulatory burden on compliant RTOs.
10. Mandate a reduction in unnecessary third-party training restrictions that limit RTO flexibility in workforce training.

Mid-Priority – Funding and Workforce Development

1. Create a national VET workforce strategy to address shortages in trainers and assessors.
2. Reintroduce financial incentives for employers hiring apprentices in priority sectors.
3. Reduce costs for trainers to obtain the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment to encourage more industry experts into teaching.
4. Provide dedicated funding for regional and remote RTOs to address access challenges.
5. Increase employer incentives for workplace-based training to expand on-the-job skill development.
6. Expand government-subsidised skill sets and micro-credentials to enable faster upskilling.
7. Introduce an RTO excellence ranking system based on graduate outcomes, not compliance paperwork.
8. Review and reform the VET qualification structure to simplify progression pathways for students.
9. Develop a national digital training strategy to modernise online and blended learning.
10. Mandate work-integrated learning in all funded VET programs to ensure graduates are job-ready.

Long-Term Reforms to Build a Stronger VET System

1. Reform foundation skills training to better support learners with literacy, numeracy, and digital skills.
2. Ensure RTO registration application processing is completed within 90 days to reduce barriers for new quality providers.
3. Introduce incentives for industry-led RTOs to deliver specialist training in high-demand sectors.
4. Allow industry associations to co-deliver accredited training to close skills gaps faster.
5. Reduce barriers for international students enrolling in quality RTOs, ensuring clearer pathways to work visas in skills shortage areas.
6. Provide direct funding support to RTOs investing in AI and emerging technology training tools.
7. Ensure mutual recognition of VET qualifications across all states and territories to improve student and workforce mobility.
8. Develop an AI-driven compliance system to reduce manual audit workloads for RTOs and ASQA.
9. Streamline the national skills needs list to better reflect real employer demand.
10. Increase funding for Indigenous RTOs and training programs to support First Nations employment pathways.

Lower-Priority – Future-Proofing the Sector

1. Encourage co-delivery partnerships between universities and RTOs to bridge higher education and VET pathways.
2. Ensure funding for micro-credentials leads to full qualifications where appropriate.
3. Expand training opportunities in clean energy, sustainability, and emerging industries.
4. Allow RTOs to deliver higher-level qualifications (Diploma and above) without unnecessary restrictions.
5. Create a "Trusted RTO" accreditation scheme for providers with a consistent record of compliance and strong outcomes.
6. Reduce ASQA’s focus on minor administrative non-compliance and shift towards training quality and student outcomes.
7. Expand the role of TAFE to focus on foundational and high-cost training, not compete unfairly with private RTOs.
8. Ensure all RTO trainers have access to government-funded professional development.
9. Develop a standardised national learning platform to support regional and remote students.
10. Mandate a 12-month review of all VET funding programs to identify waste, inefficiencies, and gaps.

Summary

The first 100 days should focus on regulatory consistency, funding equity, workforce development, and streamlining compliance. The biggest impact will come from fixing ASQA, funding VET properly, reducing compliance red tape, and ensuring industry alignment.

Would you like to develop a detailed action plan for implementation?

Yes GPT, yes we would.