15 June 2012
Baillieu booed in Ballarat
Premier Ted Baillieu faced a heated crowd of TAFE supporters when he attended a Rural Press Club of Victoria function in Ballarat today.
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Premier Baillieu, along with the Mayor of Ballarat, who has refused to publically condemn the Government's $300 million TAFE cuts, were met by over 300-plus angry protestors (who managed to sound more like 500!) as they entered the club.
Watch a video of Baillieu making his way past hundreds of angry TAFE protestors.
See the ABC News coverage here.
The demonstration caused a 20 minute hold-up of proceedings and shouts of "Save TAFE, sack Ted" of could be heard inside as Baillieu addressed the function.
Baillieu's visit came hot on the heels of a report in yesterday's Ballarat Courier that more than 2,200 Ballarat students could be denied locally provided further education under cuts to the TAFE sector.
On the same day, Advance TAFE -- which has campuses in Sale and Bairnsdale -- revealed the devastating news that it will be forced to cut 32 jobs and close eight of its smaller facilities, some within the next few weeks, as a result of the budget cutbacks. Some 36 courses will be phased out from the 215 currently taught at the institute.
The Ballarat protest was a fitting end to TAFE4All's massive regional rally tour, which saw strong turnouts at 11 campuses across the state, from Mildura to Warrnambool.
We must keep up this fight!
The AEU and NTEU are currently organising a series of metro TAFE4All rallies, culminating in a major rally in Melbourne's CBD. We will be announcing the dates shortly. WATCH THIS SPACE!!
In the meantime, please keep enouraging everyone you know to send their email to Premier Baillieu, Skills Minister Peter Hall and their local MP. Over 21,000 people have already flooded the inboxes of Victorian MPs! That's an incredible effort -- but let's keep 'em coming.
Please send and share the TAFE4All elobby now. It only takes a minute.
Dear Parliamentarians,
I wish to pose some questions about your proposed TAFE cuts to regional Victoria, in particular to University of Ballarat, which contains Australia's 3rd oldest Art School at The Arts Academy, University of Ballarat.
I would really like you to respond in writing to my concerns, in real words, not spin, and please spare me the phrases 'unsustainable growth' and 'oversupply'.
Can you indicate which Course Uni of Ballarat are going to cut, which are considered 'Mickey Mouse' courses, and which Courses don't actually lead to 'real jobs'.
Could you also indicate which Courses Uni of Ballarat are going to cut, that are provided in Regional Victoria by private providers, and can be delievered more cheaply than the currently existing TAFE Courses ?
I think there is a case for Regional TAFE providers to be spared some of these cuts.
I pose the following questions, which I would like you to respond in writing please:
1. What will the flow on effect / multiplier effect of ripping out $20million out of a regional economy like Ballarat be. If it was 3 times $20million (conservative figure?) what plans does the govenment have on its ability in re-inject $60million into the Ballarat economy?? If not, why not reverse the TAFE cut to Uni of Ballarat and SAVE a $60million 'hit' to the local economy?
2. Does The Premier believe it is reasonable to shield regional Victoria from some of the sharpest ends of the TAFE cuts, considering the economic and educational disadvantage young people in Regional Victoria face? A lot of regional school leavers are not able to afford to move to Melbourne to study to assist them get trained for the workforce. How does the State government propose to address these disadvantages? A lot of private providers apparently aren't interested in setting up courses in regional Victoria as they face increased infrastructure costs and can't turn a profit. Where does this leave local students when the Government wont subsidise these costs with publicly funded TAFE institutes (who have been doing it effectively for many years)?
3. I understand the Bailieu family have strongly supported the Arts in Victoria for many years. Has The Premier had any negative reaction from his family for effectively axing one of Australia's oldest Arts Schools here at SMB , operating since 1870?
Regards
Rex Hardware
Rex Hardware, Ballarat, 18 JUN 2012 12:11
