NTEU media release: campaign against Baillieu Government funding cuts to TAFE shifts focus to Bendigo with protest rally planned for Wednesday

Posted 29 May 2012 by Justin Westgate (TAFE)

The campaign against the Baillieu Government’s plan to cut nearly $300 million in grants to Victoria’s TAFE sector will move to Bendigo on Wednesday, with a protest rally against the cuts.

Bendigo TAFE has already announced the cuts will shave approximately $8-9 million from its budget in 2013 and 120 staff are expected to lose their jobs.

In an attempt to cut costs, Bendigo TAFE is also reviewing its courses with the possibility many will be shed across its six campuses.

A protest rally against the cuts to Bendigo TAFE will take place on Wednesday, May 30 at 12.15pm, McCrae Street, in front of the main directorate of Bendigo TAFE.

“TAFE institutions across regional Victoria have been particularly hard by the Baillieu Government’s massive cuts in public TAFE funding,” said Colin Long, Victorian Division Secretary of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU).

NTEU is one of the organisers of tomorrow’s rally.

“Bendigo TAFE is an essential part of the economic and social fabric of Central Victoria. Any impacts on its operations will be deeply felt across the community.”

“We are hoping for a good turn-out at the rally,” said Long. “We need to send a clear message to the Victorian Government these cuts are not on.”

Tomorrow’s rally is the forth in a series of protests against the TAFE cuts being organised across regional Victoria.

Speakers at tomorrow’s rally will include representatives from the NTEU and AEU.

A full list of the cuts to Victoria’s 18 TAFE institutes is downloadable below.

Colin Long, Secretary, NTEU Victoria, is available for comment and interview in the lead-up to and after Wednesday’s rally on 0403 920 361