Sarah Courtney,Minister for Skills, Training and Workforce Growth
David O'Byrne either deliberately has his head in the sand or simply does not understand the Tasmanian Liberal Government's strong Plan for TasTAFE.
In a second day of bumbling questions in Parliament, Mr O'Byrne continued his trademark fearmongering and deliberate attempts to mislead.
It is a matter of public record that the Tasmanian majority Liberal Government will invest an additional $98.5 million into TasTAFE to employ 100 more teachers, new buildings and campus upgrades, an online campus and expanded rural and regional access.
We are investing in TasTAFE to meet the needs of young people and jobseekers so that they have the best chance of getting a job.
TasTAFE will never be privatised under this Government and will remain not-for-profit.
TasTAFE employees will not be worse off, and we want to have better pay for skilled teachers.
We will guarantee that 80 per cent of all skills funding continues to be invested in the new TasTAFE model.
We will consult meaningfully with staff, students, unions, industry and the Tasmanian Community, as we work towards a TasTAFE with more flexibility and choice for learners.
This is in stark contrast to David O'Byrne and the Labor Government's shameful record.
They dismantled TasTAFE and left it in significant debt, and there were job cuts, course cuts and student numbers dropped.
Tasmanians deserve better, and it is clearly only the Liberal Government which can secure the future for TasTAFE and its students.
