BALLINA SHIRE TAFE HIT BY GOVERNMENT CUTS

A NSW Labor Government plans to revitalize TAFE and address the skills crisis caused by over a decade of neglect by the NSW Liberals and Nationals. The vocational education system in New South Wales has been significantly impacted by the loss of a third of TAFE’s teaching staff, the sale or planned sale of 14 campuses, a decline in enrolments by 160,000, and a decrease in apprenticeship and traineeship completions by half. This has affected the Wollongbar and Ballina campuses, with Wollongbar experiencing a 33% decline in enrolments and a 13% reduction in staff, and Ballina experiencing a 45% decline in enrolments and a 17% reduction in staff. To resolve the skills crisis, a Minns Labor Government will prioritize TAFE by allocating a minimum of 70% of total skills funding to TAFE, review the vocational education system, engage in an open dialogue with the sector and remove the wages cap that has been impeding productivity for 12 years.

Tim Crakanthorp MP, Shadow Minister for Skills and TAFE said:
“NSW is in a skills crisis. In just 12 months the number of occupations of National Skills Priority List has almost doubled.
“These commitments are the first step in righting the wrongs of the last decade of mismanagement.
“Only a Minns Labor Government will restore TAFE to what it used to be and re-skill NSW.”

Andrew Broadley, Labor Candidate for Ballina said:
“Both Ballina and Wollongbar TAFEs used to be vibrant community hubs, but now they are shells of their former selves.
“When I speak to the community about TAFE, I always hear back how important it is in making sure our kids get the skills and training they need to enter the workforce.
“TAFE will thrive under a Minns Labor Government.”

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