Labor slashes funding for training at The Gordon

Shadow Training and Skills Minister Steph Ryan

Labor has halved funding for student training at The Gordon, despite promising before the election to grow enrolments and ‘rescue’ TAFE.

The Gordon’s annual report, tabled in Parliament last week, reveals funding to subsidise student training was slashed from $57.5 million in 2014 to $24.3 million in 2015.

(Annual report Note 2: Income from Transactions ‘State Government contributions -contestable funding’ http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/file_uploads/The_Gordon_Annual_Report_2015_YfXs7KV9.pdf)

Funding to directly subsidise student training has declined by $33.1 million or 57 per cent.

As a result of Labor’s cuts to TAFE, student enrolments at The Gordon have declined from 19,478 in 2014 to 14,749 in 2015.

Last year the 2014 training market data report was released in March.

Daniel Andrews is yet to release the 2015 report which details the true extent of his cuts to training in Geelong.

Comments from Shadow Training and Skills Minister Steph Ryan

“Daniel Andrews’ promise to rescue TAFE was a cruel hoax.

“Under Labor The Gordon has lost $33.1 million for training and there are now 4,700 fewer student enrolments than when Daniel Andrews took office.

“Labor should release the training data detailing the full impact of these cuts on Geelong students.”

Comments from Member for South Barwon Andrew Katos

“Geelong students deserve better than Daniel Andrews’ savage cuts to The Gordon.

“After promising to rescue TAFE and restore funding, Labor has taken the axe to training in Geelong.”

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