Will the Macquarie Fields TAFE be put up for sale: local MP Anoulack Chanthivong wants the Berejiklian Government to answer that question.
Along with the Labor opposition in Macquarie Street, Mr Chanthivong is concerned because the government is so far refusing to rule out privatisation of TAFE.
Labor also accuses the government of cutting courses, closing campuses and increasing fees.
After visiting Macquarie Fields TAFE along with Labor skills and TAFE spokesman Jihad Dib, Mr Chanthivong said they have launched a parliamentary petition, seeking assurances from the government that the Macquarie Fields campus will not be the next item targeted for sell-off.
“Investment in TAFE is an investment in jobs for South West Sydney,’’ the local MP said.
“The Liberal Government’s cuts to TAFE are shameful and they should come clean on its plans for TAFE.
“At a time when our community is experiencing rapid population growth, we need more TAFE places and more money invested into TAFE to provide the training and skills for our workforce now and into the future. “We must rebuild TAFE, not destroy it.”
Mr Dib said the government continued to slash courses, hike fees and cut teaching staff, but refused refused to give a guarantee on the future of TAFE.
“The Liberal Government’s agenda is clear – they want to privatise TAFE by stealth,’’ he said.
“We’ve now got a situation where there are 175,000 fewer students and 5,500 fewer staff in TAFE, leading to less courses being offered.
“As a community we need to save TAFE before it’s too late.”
