As the minister responsible for the TAFE reforms she should lose her seat for accepting such bad advice.

The government is undertaking a review, and more than 400 submissions opposing the reforms have been provided. It is clear that TAFE is a mess, and employers, students and teachers are up in arms about the situation.

Thousands of battlers find that the reforms in TAFE put them at a disadvantage when it comes to opportunities for reskilling.

For example, nurses, teachers and other graduates who must retrain because of injury or a need to find a new career now have to pay full fees up to $12,000.

Many in redundant industries need to reskill, and Labor is making this an expensive personal exercise. Business will eventually realise that a shortage of skilled people will result. Those on social security will also find they need to take out loans to obtain a basic diploma.

The fact is that with free trade we need to keep reskilling and adjusting our labour market.

We have a big shortage of tradespeople, again a result of a Labor government decision to close technical schools and the failure to fund technical wings in the new secondary colleges.

The reforms in TAFE are a disaster; the government should be held accountable and the electorate should sack Ms Allan.

Australia cannot afford these experiments - industry needs people with the training and skills to perform tasks efficiently.

When will this government listen to those who know?

— This piece was originally published in the Bendigo Advertiser, 28 May 2010. Written by Georges Bernard, former director, Electrotechnology, Printing, Information Technology and Communications Training Board Victoria, Smiths Gully.