[Greens-Media] MARK PARNELL MLC: Minister for Women refuses to answer questions re TAFE women's ed closure

[Parnell]

Media Release
Friday 28th November, 2008

Minister for Women refuses to answer questions re TAFE women's ed
closure

	
Minister for the Status of Women, Hon. Gail Gago has refused three times
to answer questions asked by Greens MLC Mark Parnell about the closure
of the Womens' Education Program at Mt Barker TAFE.

The Minister was asked: "Were you consulted?" and "Do you support it?"

The Minister's response: "I will refer the honourable member's questions
to the appropriate minister (the Minister for Employment, Training and
Further Education) in another place and bring back a response. He is the
minister responsible for the policy area of further education and
training"

The Women's Education Program, which provides a crucial first step for
marginalised women who wish to gain skills and confidence to enter
further training or employment is one of many programs facing the axe as
TAFE colleges prepare for privatisation. 

"If I wanted an answer from the Minister for Further Education I would
have asked him.  I asked a specific question about whether the Minister
for the Status of Women had been consulted, and did she support the
decision to close vital womens' services.  Three times she refused to
answer," said Greens MLC Mark Parnell.

"It is outrageous that a relevant Minister is not prepared to answer a
direct and specific question about an issue that is central to her
portfolio.

"Instead of face to face teaching, much of the Women' Education Program
will now be online.  But many of the women who enter the course do it to
learn how to use a computer! This is a bizarre and counter-productive
move by TAFE management.  

"The Office for Women was set up to advocate across government to
'achieve gender equity and positive change for women in South
Australia'.  The TAFE Womens' Education Program is a vital and well
respected pathway for marginalised women to gain skills and confidence
to re-enter the workforce.  If ever there was a time for 'advocacy
across Government' it would be now.

 "What's the point of having a Minister for Women if she is not prepared
to defend vital womens' services?  I call on Minister Gago to do her job
as Minister for Women and help stop the closure of the Mt Barker TAFE
Womens' Education Program, as well as other similar programs across the
state," he said.

	
For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893

	
 
 


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