NTEU media release: Premier Baillieu must reverse crippling TAFE cuts
Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu must reverse the major reduction in public funding for TAFE announced in his recent state budget, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) said ahead of a major rally to protest the cuts in Melbourne today.
“The entire TAFE sector, management, staff and students, are united in their opposition to the cuts, which will slash nearly $300 million off grants to Victoria’s 18 TAFE institutes,” said NTEU Victorian Secretary, Dr Colin Long.
“As a result of these cuts the state’s 350,000 TAFE students will have to pay far more in course costs, up to triple the amount in some instances, face increased class sizes and receive less support while they study.”
“The cuts could also result in up to 1500 teaching and administration jobs being lost.”
“It is almost certain some institutes will be forced to amalgamate or close, courses will be cut, communities will lose a valuable asset.”
“The multiplier effect from job losses and potential courses closes will be particularly serious for regional Victoria.”
“The extent of these cuts defies rational explanation. Our state is in the grip of a major manufacturing downturn with thousands of workers facing unemployment, and the government’s response is to destroy one of the key solutions to it, our public TAFE system.”
Although TAFE institutes are still calculating the full impact of the cuts, the list of impacts NTEU has been able to compile to-date is as follows:
- Central Gippsland Institute of TAFE (campuses at Yallourn, Morewell, Leongatha, Warragal): 35 staff made redundant, management have announced a complete restructure, including closure of the hospitality course.
- Box Hill Institute: 33% budget cut, redundancies expected.
- Wodonga TAFE: 33% budget cut, redundancies expected.
- Chisholm Institute of TAFE (campuses in Berwick, Cranbourne, Dandenong and Frankston): significant budget impact, course cuts.
- Homesglen: $28 million budget cut.
- Kangan Institute (campuses in Broadmeadows, Essendon, Moonee Ponds and Richmond): rumours up to 150 jobs could go.
- Sunraysia Institute of TAFE (campuses in Swan Hill, Robinvale, Mildura and Ouyen): 10% budget cut, significant redundancies expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
- Gordon Institute (Geelong): 21% budget cut.
- Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (campuses across the northern metropolitan area of Melbourne): $23 million budget cut, redundancies expected.
- Ballarat University: 40% budget cut to TAFE operations.
- RMIT University: $20 million budget cut to TAFE operations.
- Victoria University: $29 million budget cut to TAFE operations, further redundancies expected.
The NTEU is helping to organise today’s protest against the cuts, which will take place at 12.30pm, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne (outside Premier Baillieu’s office).
“We are hoping for a good turn-out for this rally so that the government gets the message that these cuts are not on,” said Dr Long.
For more information and comment
Colin Long, NTEU Victoria Secretary: 0403 920 361
Andrew Nette, NTEU Media Officer: 0431 217 131
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