Labor slashes funding for training at Wodonga TAFE

Shadow Minister for Training Skills Apprenticeships Steph Ryan

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

Wodonga TAFE’s annual report, tabled in Parliament last week, reveals funding to subsidise student training was cut from $23.9 million in 2014 to $19.4 million in 2015.

(Annual report p.80 – Note 2: ‘state government-contestable’
www.parliament.vic.gov.au/file_uploads/Wodonga_TAFE_Annual_Report_2015_f1ZFBy3w.pdf)

Funding to directly subsidise student training has declined by $4.5 million or 18.8 per cent.

The full impact of these funding cuts on student enrolments has been hidden from the public but the annual report reveals Labor’s cuts have hit young people the hardest, with 1,333 fewer 15 to 24 year olds undertaking training.

The number of 25 to 64 year olds enrolled at Wodonga TAFE also dropped by 591 students (annual report p.46).

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 on Wodonga TAFE.

Comments from Shadow Training, Skills and Apprenticeships Minister Steph Ryan:

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

“Under Labor, Wodonga TAFE has lost more than $4.5 million for student training.

“Students in north-east Victoria deserve better than Daniel Andrews’ lies about TAFE.”

Comments from Member for Benambra Bill Tilley:

“Fewer students are in training now than when Daniel Andrews came to government.

“Labor’s cuts to training are hurting young people the most by taking away their ability to get the skills they need to find work.

“Daniel Andrews must immediately release the training data detailing the full impact of these cuts on student enrolments at Wodonga TAFE.”

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