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Following remarks from Assistant Minister for Skills Adam Marshall in calling the Greens’ concerns about the future of TAFE in NSW ‘deceptive’, Greens MP and TAFE spokeswoman Dawn Walker has challenged him to a debate on the future of TAFE in regional NSW.
Mr Marshall said Ms Walker owed the community “an apology” for slamming the new multi-million dollar digital hubs which are currently being rolled out in Glen Innes and Tenterfield, with headquarters in Armidale.
“Dawn Walker either has no idea about what’s going on or is deliberately trying to deceive the community,” Mr Marshall told Fairfax Media after Ms Walker visited the two campuses on Wednesday.
“I’m astounded by it and quite frankly, disgusted by it.”
Ms Walker was not about to take the criticism lying down.
“If Adam Marshall is so confident that his Liberal-National Government’s plans to sell off TAFE campuses and replace them with computer terminals is the best way forward for regional communities, then I challenge him to a debate on the issue,” she said.
“He can choose the time and the place, but let’s allow the people of regional NSW decide who has the best way forward for TAFE.
“Instead of throwing tantrums at the Greens for standing up for TAFE, the minister should spend more time listening to students and TAFE teachers across regional NSW who are very concerned about the changes the Nationals have introduced that are undermining TAFE.
“From my recent trip in New England and the Northern Rivers, I can tell you that Tenterfield TAFE looks like a ghost town, Quirindi TAFE has been run into the ground, Murwillumbah TAFE has had course after course ripped out and Glen Innes is about to get a glorified internet café instead of a functional TAFE campus.
“If the Minister thinks that is what communities in his electorate and across regional NSW want, then he should have no problem debating me in public.”