TasTAFE reform debate heats up

DEBATE over the future of TasTAFE has reignited as the state government pushes ahead with major reform of the institution.

Opposition education spokesman Josh Willie said there was no reason for the government to turn TasTAFE into a government business enterprise as it planned to do.

“The proposed reforms are nothing more than an ideological attack on our great institution that serves Tasmania well in most instance,” Mr Willie said.

“To erode that quality training is a mistake.”

He said the government had the opportunity to work with stakeholders if it had an issue with TasTAFE.

“They’ve been in government for seven years,” he said.

“Why haven’t they worked with industry, why haven’t they worked with the workforce to make TAFE more flexible, where it needs to be and more aligned with industry?

“We also know TasTAFE is working well for many industries.”

Mr Willie said the move would lead to the employment of unqualified teachers.

“Why would we move away from TasTAFE teachers who meet a number of requirements, they are instructional specialists,” he said.

“We’ll potentially see course cuts as we have in other states.

“We know these reforms in

South Australia aren’t going well.”

But Skills and Training Minister Sarah Courtney rubbished the claims, accusing Labor of restarting conflict to distract from infighting.

“In another desperate attempt to deflect from their woeful internal disarray, Labor has recommenced its ridiculous scare campaign around TasTAFE,” Ms Courtney said.

“We could not have been more clear to Labor about what our plan means for TasTAFE.

“TasTAFE will remain notfor-profit and publicly owned, no existing TasTAFE employee will be worse off, there will be no forced redundancies.

“There will be more courses.”

Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said TasTAFE’s Drysdale campus was the single biggest failing of the tourism and hospitality industry, backing in the proposed reforms.

Australian Education Union TAFE president Simon Bailey said there was no evidence to suggest TasTAFE was performing as badly as Mr Martin claimed.

“There’s no evidence that TasTAFE is not meeting the expectations of students or the industry,” Mr Bailey said.

“We’re not saying things are perfect, we’re saying lets sit down and have a proper review into the VET system.”