GREENS candidate for next year’s state election, Adam Guise, has called on incumbent member Thomas George to protect local TAFE institutions.
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Mr Guise spent last week touring the region with Greens MP John Kaye speaking with local educators.
From next year, TAFE will compete for students and funding with private providers, as part of the State Government's "smart and skilled" reforms.
Mr Kaye said he was concerned areas like Tenterfield would be unable to keep up.
“It is unrealistic to think that private training providers will converge on small towns like Tenterfield and Kyogle or provide the quality education at reduced fees that TAFE already does,” Mr Kaye said.
"Before the March 2011 election, Thomas George's two most senior National party colleagues signed a pre-election pledge to support TAFE.
"Since coming to power the Nationals, together with their Liberal Coalition partners, has broken every one of those commitments to TAFE - they have cut the budget, reduced staff numbers and slashed courses.
"Thomas George cannot escape his responsibility for the future of TAFE in his electorate,” he said.
Mr Guise said bolstering TAFE in regional areas was vital.
“Properly funded TAFE colleges are essential to regional communities. With less access to universities and lack of public transport, TAFE is the means for young people and job seekers to get the skills necessary for jobs in regional areas,” he said.
Sixteen staff at the Lismore and Wollongbar TAFE campus have recently been cut and Mr Guise said he was concerned of the flow on effect to other regional towns such as Tenterfield.
"Our already low-income and high unemployment region has too much to lose if TAFE is further damaged.
“If the Nationals really cared about regional communities they'd be investing in TAFE in preparation for a renewable energy and sustainable agriculture future,” Mr Guise said.
Member for Lismore Thomas George said the protest was little more than an election stunt.
“Both the green and Labor candidate met in front of my office highlighting issues regarding TAFE.” Mr George said.
“No-one has made representations or asked me to make representations on any issue regarding TAFE in Lismore or any other town in the last three months.”
“I find it difficult when they’re running a scare campaign that there concerns have never been brought to my attention and I think it is surprising that both Labor and the Green are running this campaign together. To me it is just another election stunt.”