Local State and Federal Labor MPs and Labor’s candidate for Gilmore today met out the front of West Wollongong TAFE to sign a pledge to guarantee funding for TAFE with Labor’s State Shadow Minister for Skills, Prue Car. 

In stark contrast to the Liberal’s disdain for TAFE, Labor has committed to guarantee funding for TAFE at both a State and Federal Level.

With our fast changing economy and competitive jobs market, now more than ever, Australians need to get the skills they need to get well-paid and secure jobs.

The Liberals at a State Level have cut and slashed funding for TAFE.  Federally the Turnbull Government refused to fund the $500 million National Partnership Agreement and have ripped funding from TAFE for programs like the Adult Migrant English Program.

Federal Labor has committed to:

1. Investing an additional $637.6 million into TAFE and vocational education  - reversing the government’s 2017 budget cuts in full
2. Guaranteeing at least two thirds of public vocational education funding for TAFE
3. Investing in a new $100 million Building TAFE for the Future Fund – to re-establish TAFE facilities in regional communities, meet local industry needs and support teaching for the digital economy

At a State level, there are 63,000 fewer enrolments in TAFE colleges, 5,689 teachers and support staff have been sacked, TAFE recurrent funding has been cut by over $105 million and capital funding to look after maintenance of bricks and mortar campuses was cut by $30.4 million.

State Labor will:

• Guarantee at least 70 per cent of public funding for vocational education and training to the TAFE commission;
• Establish a Private Providers Investigations Unit to investigate dodgy training providers and clean up the sector.

Labor has locked in to supporting TAFE – the Liberals need to stop their TAFE-slashing and start investing in the skills we need for the jobs of the future.