Labor says a ministerial letter confirming lab technician training subsidies have been restored – but only to three mainland private providers – exposes “chaos” at the heart of the state government’s TasTAFE cuts.
The letter from Skills and Jobs Minister Felix Ellis says the Certificate III in Laboratory Skills and the Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques are now subsidised through ABC Training and Consulting, Melbourne Tech Institute and Labtech Training Victoria.
“The government remains committed to ensuring that Tasmanian learners continue to have access to training in laboratory technology courses through private training providers funded by Skills Tasmania,” Ellis wrote in the letter.
“Further adjustments have also been made to existing funding programs to ensure coverage for pre-employment training.”
Shadow TAFE, skills and training minister Brian Mitchell said the letter was an “admission” the government’s original decision had backfired.
“This is the same minister who late last year cut subsidies for 12 courses in TasTAFE, including lab tech,” Mitchell said.
“He has restored those subsidies for lab tech training, but only through interstate training providers who don’t have a footprint in Tasmania.”
Late last year, the government removed subsidies from 12 TasTAFE courses and 18 staff were made redundant days before Christmas.
Affected courses included laboratory technology, design, screen and media, music, fashion, visual art and meat processing.
Mitchell said the TasTAFE lab tech course had strong industry backing, with letters of support from hospitals, schools and employers.
He said the final student cohort would finish at TasTAFE this year.
“[The minister] can reverse the cuts he’s made to TasTAFE lab tech training, keep the course here at TasTAFE, keep the teachers here, keep the expertise here,” Mitchell said.
Labor says the move sends the wrong message to young Tasmanians.
“It’s absolutely unacceptable that this government is essentially sending kids, Tasmanian kids, over to the mainland for opportunities they can’t get here,” Mitchell said.
The row comes as TasTAFE chief executive Norman Baker confirmed the organisation must find $45 million in savings over four years.
Ellis told parliament last week the government was continuing to invest in TasTAFE, pointing to a $19 million funding increase this financial year and $118 million in capital works across the state.
Asked about the issue on Wednesday, Premier Jeremy Rockliff pointed to the government’s ongoing investment in TasTAFE.
“We continue to invest in TasTAFE,” Rockliff said.
“Our public training provider, as I said for seven years as education minister, is essential in maintaining and increasing the workforce for what is a $30 billion pipeline of infrastructure investment.”
“That’s why we’ve continued to invest in operational investment and recurrent expenditure and that’s why we’ve continued and actually increased investment when it comes to upgrading training facilities across the state.”
“Nurses, trades, whatever it might be, we have continually invested in infrastructure when it comes to our public training provider, TasTAFE, and we’ll continue to do so.”
A parliamentary motion passed last week orders Ellis to table full details of the $45 million in cuts by May 5.
