Rebecca White MP, Labor Leader, 23 March, 2021
Gutwein must go back to the drawing board on TAFE
The Liberals need to admit they’ve got it wrong and go back to the drawing board on their poisonous move to blow up TAFE or risk locking students out of the courses they need to get jobs.
Labor Leader Rebecca White said the government’s plans to privatise TAFE will mean fewer courses and higher fees, while doing nothing to address Tasmania’s chronic skills shortage.
“For seven years, the Liberals have undermined and underinvested in TAFE, with enrolments declining by more than 30 per cent under their watch,” Ms White said.
“Now, the Premier appears determined to push ahead with plans to blow up TAFE up entirely.
“Despite Mr Gutwein’s claims that it will not be privatised, it is clear that the institution will run on a ‘cost-recovery’ model that will massively increase costs for both students and employers.
“At the moment, student fees represent just over 10 per cent of TAFE’s budget but under the Liberals’ model, forcing TAFE to recover all costs, course costs will skyrocket by ten times, leaving students unable to afford the courses they need.
“Not only that, but the government’s plan has not been costed, meaning the impact on the budget is an unknown black hole.
“As a result, TAFE workers are uncertain about what the future holds and the future of courses in regional areas like Smithton, Scottsdale and Huonville is up in the air.
“In contrast, Labor’s fully-costed Free TAFE policy, which is in addition to our broader plan to rebuild TAFE from the ground up, will support another 20,000 Tasmanians to get a foot in the door to a good job.
“We will invest $22.5 million over four years to expand the teaching workforce by approximately 20 per cent, improve regional delivery and align training with workforce needs, to help Tasmanian businesses and provide Tasmanians with the skills they need for the jobs of the future.”
Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Education and Training, 23 March 2021
Labor must stop fearmongering
The Labor party must stop their reckless fearmongering and support the Liberal Government’s bold plan to build a better TasTAFE which can better respond to community and industry needs.
These are the facts:
TasTAFE is not being privatised, it will remain our public training provider.
Courses will continue to be heavily subsidised for students and TAFE will continue to have a community obligation to support all levels of learning.
And, under the Fair Work Act staff can not be disadvantaged.
Labor’s constant negativity and talking down of industry is exhausting for students, staff and teachers.
The Liberal Government’s plan actually means more teachers, more delivery in our regions, more contemporary and fit for purpose facilities, more training options, better pay for skilled teachers and flexible hours.
TasTAFE must have the autonomy and the workforce flexibility to continuously align its training offering with evolving workforce needs.
This is what our learners need – a flexible environment to get the skills and training they need where and when they need it.
It’s time to take action and build a bolder TasTAFE with a smart approach to delivering hands-on training through courses that best equip Tasmanians to gain a job.
Media release – Australian Education Union, 20 March 2021
Government’s case for TAFE privatisation shattered by Agreement revelations
Revelations that the Tasmanian Government is overdue to commence negotiations for a new workplace Agreement for TasTAFE teachers and staff destroys the case and timeline for their privatisation proposal.
An explosive letter from Australian Education Union State Manager Brian Wightman to TasTAFE CEO Grant Dreher points out that Government demands for flexibility and increased wages can be easily and quickly met through union negotiations that were scheduled to commence before the Government’s privatisation push was announced.
“There have been ample opportunities for the Liberal Government to raise issues and have them dealt with, from previous negotiations and consultative working groups to a simple phone call and meeting,” said Brian Wightman.
“Instead of bringing issues to the appropriate forum and treating teachers and staff with respect and professionalism, Peter Gutwein has declared war on TAFE with a privatisation bomb in parliament.”
“Our members, TasTAFE teachers and support staff, found out about proposals for voluntary redundancies and dramatic changes to their working conditions from a speech in parliament and media coverage. Members are rightly shocked, saddened and angry.”
“The worst part is, TasTAFE members and representatives offered up the very things the Liberal Government now says they want – flexibility in working arrangements and pay rises for teachers – at the last round of negotiations and the Government rejected them.”
“The Premier acknowledges TAFE is critical to Tasmania’s economic recovery, but instead of moving quickly to invest in TAFE with more teachers and increased student places, he’s started what will be a drawn-out war.”
The Australian Education Union submission to the 2021-2022 State Budget includes an increased investment in TasTAFE for more teachers, course options and increased student places.
“The simplest way to improve TAFE is to employ more teachers and that requires Government investment – if Peter Gutwein is serious about creating more training options to get Tasmanians ready for work, I say show me the money and let’s start negotiations now.”
“End the war on TAFE and let’s negotiate.”
“Peter Gutwein and the Liberal Party know their privatisation proposal won’t deliver anything this year – they also know the current TasTAFE workplace Agreement expires in just three months’ time and negotiations should be commencing now.”
The current TasTAFE Teaching Staff Industrial Agreement 2019 expires on 30th June 2021 and covers items such as hours of work, teaching loads, holidays and staff salaries. Under the Agreement, negotiations should commence “no later than six months prior to the expiry of this agreement.”
“If the Liberal Party cared about TAFE, about jobs and about quality training and education, they would bring their proposals to the negotiation table immediately where they can be resolved far quicker than their baseless war on TAFE will deliver anything.”
