Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) Crows Nest TAFE is to be closed down and the Cammeraygal High School is to be expanded onto the site,

(ii) the New South Wales Government is planning to sell or partially sell 27 campuses in addition to Crows Nest TAFE,

(iii) increasing privatisation of technical and further education (TAFE) funding and the consequent increase in fees has been linked to a substantial drop in enrolments,

(iv) the closure of Crows Nest TAFE is a direct consequence of the 2012 National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development which has significantly damaged the public TAFE system, by accelerating public funding of private sector involvement in vocational education and training, and

(v) while the development of new high school capacity in North Sydney is urgently needed and the creation of a new school campus welcome, it is not in the interests of the North Sydney community to trade off education sectors against each other; and

(b) calls on:

(i) the Federal and New South Wales governments to restore secure funding for TAFEs in New South Wales,

(ii) the New South Wales Government to reopen a TAFE institution in the Crows Nest area, and

(iii) the Turnbull Government and the Labor Opposition to revisit the 2012 National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development to ensure that public institutions remain the core of education in Australia.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This year, the Australian government will provide around $6 billion to support vocational education and training. This includes $1.8 billion to the states and territories, of which New South Wales receives $585 million to fund its training systems, including TAFE. The operation of TAFEs, including where TAFEs are located, is a matter for the relevant state or territory governments. I am advised by the New South Wales government that this motion refers to a leaked New South Wales document that identifies 27 TAFE assets for potential sale. Eighteen of these assets are not campuses; they are vacant surplus land and buildings. It would not be responsible of any government to hold onto unused vacant assets when they could otherwise be put to use on behalf of the community.

The transfer of Crows Nest TAFE to the New South Wales Department of Education is a direct response to the need for a new school in the Northern Sydney area. There has been little opposition to the Crows Nest TAFE transfer from the people of the region. They, I understand, welcome the news that they have a new school to send their kids to.

Question agreed to.