Ms BADGER question to the MINISTER for SKILLS AND JOBS, Mr ELLIS
[10.10 a.m.]
Two years ago, you told a Legislative Council inquiry:
Our government is committed to ensuring that there is a strong future for Tas TAFE. We have always said we want to see our hard-working teachers and staff paid more and deliver more training.
Since then, under your watch, TasTAFE has cut courses in arts, media, lab tech; they have cut jobs in automotive training; and diminished equitable training options for Tasmanians. Last week, a leaked email showed that TasTAFE intends to make $45 million in cuts over the next four years. Where exactly is that $45 million coming from? Which courses will be cut? And how many teachers and staff will lose their jobs?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the honourable member for her interest. I also thank the Prime Minister for yesterday coming down to Burnie TAFE, which is the site of a federal-state partnership for a $27 million north west Clean Energy Centre of Excellence at TasTAFE. It’s a fantastic investment, a matched investment between the state and the Commonwealth. It is going to transform the opportunities for learners in the north west to be able to get the kind of training that they need for hydro-industrialisation in its second wave, which will be unlocked by this government’s investment in things like Marinus Link. It is encouraging for the sparkies and a range of other energy apprentices who will be coming through the doors there. I thank the Prime Minister and the local Labor member, Anne Urquhart, for her advocacy.
Ms BADGER – Point of order, Speaker, Standing Order 45, relevance. This is the opposite of talking about $45 million of cuts.
The SPEAKER – I draw the minister back to the original question.
Mr ELLIS – I’m talking about $27 million worth of investments, Ms Badger. I can talk about the investments in your old trade, in automotive, with the new Automotive Regional Centre being established very shortly. We might even give you an invite, Ms Badger. If things in the Senate don’t work out for you, there might be some courses to do there for you, too. That’s a partnership between TasTAFE and the honourable minister.
Dr WOODRUFF – Point of order, 45, relevance. The minister hasn’t gone anywhere near the serious question of the deep cuts into TasTAFE.
The SPEAKER – I draw the minister back to relevance. You have a minute and 22 seconds to answer the question.
Mr ELLIS – I’m talking about a $2.5 million investment in a new facility by TasTAFE and the Tasmanian Automotive Chamber of Commerce and Industry. I was asked about automotive. That will ensure that, after the flooding event that happened in the Campbell Street campus, those learners will –
Ms BADGER – Honourable Speaker, point of order, 45, relevance. You were not asked about automotive and if you want to get into that section of things, that’s a whole other topic as to how that building was actually procured, with the lack of public consultation and fair input –
The SPEAKER – Thank you, Ms Badger. Point of order is not a time for a debating point. The honourable minister has 45 seconds. I do draw him to relevance. Continual points of order can be disorderly because you have other forms of the House: you have a supplementary, you have a further two questions, and you have Adjournment, other motions and MPIs.
Mr ELLIS – I was asked about automotive, despite the claims from Ms Badger, and we’re delivering for automotive. If you don’t want an invite, if you’re too busy complaining, you don’t have to come. But our learners will, and they will be able to learn in new modern facilities for the first time in generations. Under a Labor-Greens government, they were doing it in the basement at Campbell Street, now they will have a purpose-built facility that will be able to support learners. We continue to invest in the future of TasTAFE, funding continues to grow and it is about making sure that we are responsible.
The SPEAKER -The minister’s time has expired.
Supplementary Question
Ms BADGER – Quite an obvious supplementary. That is frankly the most shameful answer I have seen from a minister in this place since I have been here. How many teachers and staff at TasTAFE are going to lose their jobs in your $45 million of cuts?
Mr ELLIS – Talking about shameful, I have to say that your contribution yesterday was disgraceful, Ms Badger.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER – Order. The honourable minister, you are reflecting on a vote of the House, so I do ask that you withdraw that comment, please.
Mr ELLIS – Happy to withdraw.
In terms of the investments that we’re making in TasTAFE, we continue to grow the future of TasTAFE, and funding continues to grow as well.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER – Order. Sorry, minister, there are too many people talking. Hansard cannot record so many voices. I ask the minister to please respond to the question.
Mr ELLIS – Thank you, Speaker. As I said, we’re growing funding in TasTAFE. It’s important that TasTAFE are also responsible stewards of taxpayer funds. We need to be making sure that when a dollar of hard-earnt taxpayer money comes into TasTAFE, that it’s delivering outcomes on the other end of it.
The SPEAKER – Just before I give the call to the honourable member for Franklin, Mr George, I have the power to draw ministers to relevance, but I cannot put words in their mouth. I cannot ask them to continue their answer. I cannot get them to give the answer that you require. There are other forms of the House, if the House is not happy with the minister’s response, that you can use, including a substantive motion, Adjournment, further questions. I cannot force the minister to give the answer you require, I can only draw them to relevance. I have no other powers.
