Greens bill to save TAFE defeated by Baird government
The Greens鈥 bid to bring TAFE back from the brink in NSW has been blocked by Liberals and Nationals MPs hell-bent on handing over public money to private for-profit training providers at the public provider鈥檚 expense.
A Bill introduced by Greens NSW MP John Kaye and passed by the NSW Upper House in June was defeated in the Legislative Assembly last Thursday 13 November.
The legislation sought to stop the introduction of the Baird government鈥檚 Smart and Skilled training market, restore TAFE funding and freeze TAFE fees and the flow of money going to private providers at 2010/11 levels.
Dr Kaye said: 鈥淭he Baird Government has refused to acknowledge the destructive impact their policies are already having on NSW鈥檚 world-class public provider of vocational education and training.
鈥淭his bill would have saved TAFE from the very worst of the damage that consecutive Labor and Coalition governments have inflicted on it.
鈥淏y voting against this legislation the Nationals have condemned students all over rural and regional NSW to poor quality education, lost opportunities and increased fees.
鈥淭he Liberals鈥 Matt Kean and the Nationals鈥 Kevin Anderson disputed figures of job losses in TAFE that were provided to the Greens by the Education Minister himself.
鈥淭he same MPs conveniently glossed over the fact that they signed a pre-election pledge to increase TAFE funding, keep it affordable for all, and stop further privatisation of VET. Those Coalition promises are now a distant memory.
鈥淓ach of the Liberal and Nationals MPs who spoke against the bill displayed utter contempt for all those who are campaigning in support of a secure future for TAFE.
鈥淭hey repeatedly belittled the Upper House鈥檚 support for the bill, ignoring the fact that the proportionally-elected Legislative Council more closely represents the views of the people of NSW.
鈥淚t is the Liberals and Nationals MPs who will stand condemned by their decision to support the slashing of TAFE鈥檚 budget, the loss of over 1200 jobs, massive fee increases for students and the privatisation of the VET sector.
鈥淓ducation Minister Adrian Piccoli did not show TAFE teachers, staff, students and the community the courtesy of bothering to speak on debate on the bill.
鈥淢r Piccoli was in the House to vote against the legislation but never spoke on the bill, despite being the Minister responsible.
鈥淭he campaign to stop Smart and Skilled from savaging TAFE is far from over.
鈥淪mart and Skilled has already delivered training contracts for huge multi-national corporations including McDonalds, Serco and Echo, the owner of the Star casino, all funded by the NSW taxpayer.
鈥淲hile TAFE Institutes have survived this round, nothing can stop a re-elected Coalition government from cutting its slice of the funding pie even thinner.
鈥淭he Greens will continue to work for a funding system that preserves TAFE as the dominant provider of vocational education and training and gives it the resources it needs to deliver high quality public education,鈥 Dr Kaye said.
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455
To read the whole debate in the Legislative Assembly, click .
Members of the Legislative Assembly who spoke against the bill: Hornsby MP Matt Kean (Liberal), Cronulla MP Mark Speakman (Liberal), Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson (Nationals), Myall Lakes MP Stephen Bromhead (Nationals) and Riverstone MP Kevin Connolly (Liberal).
Members of the Legislative Council who spoke in favour of the bill: Keira MP Ryan Park (Labor), Sydney MP Alex Greenwich (Independent) & Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper (Independent)
Voting record:
From Legislative Assembly Hansard Thursday 13 November 2014
TAFE CHANGES MORATORIUM (SECURE FUTURE FOR PUBLIC PROVISION OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING) BILL 2014
Second Reading
Question鈥擳hat this bill be now read a second time鈥攑ut.
The House divided.
Ayes, 21
| Mr Barr Ms Burton Mr Collier Mr Crakanthorp Mr Daley Mr Furolo Mr Greenwich Ms Harrison |
Mr Hoenig Ms Hornery Mr Lynch Dr McDonald Ms Mihailuk Mr Park Mr Parker Mr Robertson |
Ms Tebbutt Ms Watson Mr ZangariTellers, Mr Amery Ms Hay |
Noes, 42
| Mr Anderson Mr Aplin Mr Barilaro Mr Baumann Ms Berejiklian Mr Bromhead Mr Brookes Mr Conolly Mr Constance Mr Coure Mr Doyle Mr Evans Mr Flowers Mr Gee Mr George |
Ms Goward Mr Grant Mr Gulaptis Mr Hartcher Mr Hazzard Mr Issa Dr Lee Mr Marshall Mr Notley-Smith Mr O鈥橠ea Mr Page Ms Parker Mr Perrottet Mr Piccoli Mr Provest |
Mr Rohan Mr Rowell Mr Sidoti Mr Smith Mr Speakman Mr Stoner Ms Upton Mr Ward Mr R. C. Williams Mrs WilliamsTellers, Mr Patterson Mr J. D. Williams |
Pairs
| Ms Burney | Mr Baird |
| Mr Lalich | Mr Dominello |
| Mrs Perry | Mr O鈥橣arrell |
| Mr Rees | Mrs Skinner |