[Greens-Media] Greens kick off TAFE tour in the Illawarra

[John Kaye]

Greens kick off TAFE tour in the Illawarra

Media release: 21 July 2013

As the clock ticks down to the introduction of the Baird government's devastating changes to the vocational education and training sector, time is running out for local communities in the Illawarra and South Coast to have their say about the future of TAFE, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Dr Kaye will be meeting with teachers and their union representatives on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week to discuss the impacts of the Coalition's Smart and Skilled training market on local TAFE colleges and the ability of young people in the region to access affordable quality skills training.

Wollongong visit details:

What:   Media conference with NSW Teachers Federation
When:  Monday 21 July 2014, 2:00-2:30 pm
Where: NSW Teachers Federation Wollongong Office, 68 Kembla Street, Wollongong
Who:    Greens NSW MP John Kaye and NSW Teachers Federation representatives

Following the brief stop at Wollongong, Dr Kaye will be visiting TAFE campuses and addressing public forums in the NSW South Coast on Tuesday (Bega) and Wednesday (Moruya) this week (details available on request).

Dr Kaye said: "Illawarra TAFE has been hit hard by the Baird government's attacks on the public provision of vocational education and training.
"Illawarra TAFE has been forced to slim down in preparation for the January 2015 launch of the Smart and Skilled training market when it will be dumped into an unwinnable contest with low cost, low quality private providers.

"Local students are facing massive fee increases. Heavily reduced face-to-face teaching hours threaten the safety and quality of the delivery of trades courses. Students with a disability will no longer receive extra support.

"It is no coincidence that the Greens chose Wollongong TAFE as the venue to launch our Save TAFE bill back in November last year.

"TAFE serves an essential public service in the Illawarra region which is facing a downturn in the manufacturing industries and a high youth unemployment rate.

"Funding for the public provider must be restored and the competitive training market abolished if the Illawarra Institute is to continue to offer its high quality education opportunities and unique services including second-chance education and specialised support for students with a disability or other learning needs.

"The campaign to secure TAFE's future took a big step forward just before the NSW parliament commenced its winter recess last month when the Greens TAFE Changes Moratorium bill passed the NSW Upper House.

"The Greens bill will stop the budget cuts, fee increases and growth in private provider funding of the last three years. It will abolish the Smart and Skilled training market.

"The challenge now lies with Liberals and Nationals MPs. We will be making sure every constituent knows what their government has in the pipeline for their local TAFE.

"Several Coalition MPs including local Liberals Lee Evans (Heathcote), Gareth Ward (Kiama) and Shelley Hancock (South Coast) who signed the pre-March 2011 election 5 point pledge to support TAFE are also in our sights.

"They made a commitment to their local communities to guarantee TAFE funding, stop the privatisation of TAFE, increase permanent teaching positions and keep TAFE affordable to all.

"There is still time for them to fulfil their pre-election commitment to their communities. They can cross the floor and vote for the Greens bill when it is debated in the lower house later this year.

"We will also be taking our Save TAFE message directly to the electorate of Liberal Bega MP Andrew Constance, who, as Treasurer, has a massive say in the state's budget allocation and must also be held accountable to his community who want to see TAFE remain not just viable, but thriving.

"The Greens welcome Labor's support of our bill and look forward to working with them to create a secure future for TAFE to make it the highest quality public education facility it can be.

"The Greens vision is of an appropriately-resourced TAFE system where course quality or duration is not compromised or teachers exploited. Private providers should only be permitted to offer courses that even a sufficiently funded TAFE cannot.

"This campaign is about the future of a cohesive society and a strong economy. A world without TAFE is not worth the risk," said Dr Kaye.

For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455

John Kaye
Greens NSW MP

P: (02) 9230 2668 | F: facebook.com/john.kaye.mlc<http://www.facebook.com/john.kaye.mlc> | T: @johnkgreens<twitter.com/johnkgreens> | W: www.johnkaye.org.au<http://www.johnkaye.org.au>
Mail: Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

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