It is disappointing to see investment in TasTAFE Arts courses has dropped at a crucial time of diminishing opportunities for Tasmanian students. With UTAS scaling back its course offerings, the Liberals should be filling a training gap through TasTAFE, not closing the door on this socially important sector.
The Minister waxes lyrical about TasTAFEs’ role in meeting the needs of society, while at the same time slashing Arts courses funding. The arts is the foundation of community and cultural identity and a large economic contributor, especially in a creative hive like Tasmania.
TasTAFE students are effectively being priced out of enrolling in a swath of Arts and Design training to cull the courses – some of which will see a price hike of tens of thousands of dollars, equating to over 5000%.
These funding cuts are not good for the future of Tasmania. Forcing students out of the arts doesn’t redirect them into the Ministers’ priority areas of carpentry or plumbing, it forces students to seek training in their desired field elsewhere, now likely outside of our state.
When enrolments inevitability drop, what will this mean for jobs at TasTAFE?
The Liberals should be investing TasTAFE so it’s genuinely free for all Tasmanians – not building a billion-dollar stadium. It’s time the Liberal Government got its budget priorities straight.
The Greens call on Minister Ellis to lift his game and support equitable, diverse skills and training opportunities for Tasmania.
