TasTAFE fees could jump 7% from January 1, 2027, a hike that comes as the training provider hunts for $45 million in savings in a push that also forecasts the loss of 118 jobs.
The fee rise was revealed in a Right to Information document released to Labor and raised at budget estimates on Thursday.
Labor leader Josh Willie pressed Skills and Training Minister Felix Ellis on the figure.
“Pricing changes of 7% across all products effective from the 1st of January 2027. Is that what you’re considering?” he asked.
Ellis repeatedly described it as a review rather than a decision.
But TasTAFE chief executive Norman Baker confirmed the 7% figure was in the organisation’s sights.
“That’s what’s currently in our calculations, but we haven’t finished our governance processes through our board for approval for next year’s prices yet,” Baker said.
Willie said the increase sat above general inflation of 4.2% and education inflation of 2.3%.
“We need to skill up Tasmanians, not make it harder,” he said.
“It’s just going to make the barrier harder for Tasmanians to enter TAFE.”
Baker said TasTAFE was not immune to rising costs, pointing to items such as copper piping for plumbing and food for chefs.
He said students on Fee-Free TAFE and concession rates would not be affected.
The same RTI document forecasts TasTAFE’s workforce falling from 865 full-time equivalent staff in 2024-25 to 747 by 2029-30 – a reduction of 118 roles, including 63 teachers.
Baker described the document as a January forecast of ideas at the time and said the focus was on financial targets rather than a set number of job cuts.
“If we can actually achieve our financial outcomes by reducing less staff, that is definitely the principle upon which we’re operating,” he said.
“We’re looking at all sorts of other initiatives around where we might be able to save extra money or indeed grow extra money.”
Baker said much of the teacher reduction was expected to come from lifting productivity – having full-time teachers work closer to their 800-hour annual limit and using fewer casual staff – rather than redundancies.
He said TasTAFE had no current plan to cut more jobs and there would be no wholesale changes to its courses.
The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) says the planned changes will hit students.
“Behind every course is a team of administrative, library and student support staff who make learning possible,” general secretary Thirza White said.
“When you cut those backline roles, you cut the support students rely on to succeed.”
White said non-teaching staff were already facing higher workloads and unfilled vacancies.
“Public education … isn’t meant to make profit or break even,” White said.
“It is a cost to the community – but it exists to build skills, support students, and strengthen our economy.”
