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The National Strategy for Vocational Education and Training 1998 − 2003 continues a practice within Australian vocational education and training whereby its mission, context, priority objectives and broad strategies are agreed to by federal, state and territory governments. Moreover, through the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) board, this has been achieved through the participation and co-operation of industry, the unions and providers. Even prior to the establishment of ANTA there was a significant level of co-operation and joint direction between the states and territories. Thus, for a decade or more, there has existed essentially bipartisan support for a planned approach, with a high level of national consensus. The maximisation of employment potential of individuals and increased competitiveness of industry continue to be major issues that planning for vocational education and training seeks to address. Yet latterly, these thrusts have not been complemented by similarly developed and agreed upon national industry, employment, research and development of technology policies. Instead, planning for vocational education and training has taken place in the absence of an overall policy and planning framework. The paper will consider how this ambiguity has affected planning for vocational education and training and possible consequences for vocational education and training research.