Labor questions the LNP’s commitment to fee-free TAFE funding in Qld

Aspiring nurses, builders and disability support workers are set to miss out on fee-free TAFE places after 30,000 positions weren’t funded by the Crisafulli government in last week’s budget, deputy opposition leader Cameron Dick says.

Deputy opposition leader, Cameron Dick and Member for Cairns, Michael Healy have flagged their concerns with no clarity on how many fee free TAFE places were included in the state budget last week. Picture: Samuel Davis

Aspiring nurses, builders and disability support workers are set to miss out on fee-free TAFE places after 30,000 positions weren’t funded by the Crisafulli government in last week’s budget, deputy opposition leader Cameron Dick says.

But premier David Crisafulli has dismissed Labor’s claims as part of a “scare campaign” dating back to the state election in October.

Future tradies along with health and hospitality workers furthering their studies through TAFE would now be slugged with course fees during a skills and cost of living crisis across the state, Mr Dick said.

“For the last four years, the Labor government topped up free TAFE places, up to 30,000 free TAFE places each year,” he said.

“The LNP’s first budget offers no additional places. This is another roadblock for Queensland’s progress.

“It’s another roadblock when it comes to young people, particularly in the Far North, getting those skilled jobs that they deserve.”

Concerns had already emerged within the education sector and among prospective students, Member for Cairns, Michael Healy said.

“My office has had phone calls, and the offices of other members of parliament across this state have received calls from students saying that they cannot get into fee-free TAFE,” Mr Healy said.

“This is so vitally important, not only for their own development and for their own creation of jobs and secure jobs and a better future, but it’s so vitally important for industry.”

The LNP remained committed to creating job opportunities for Queensland through TAFE, Mr Crisafulli said with three new facilities to be built across the state.

“That should give you an indication of how much we value and respect TAFE,” he said.

“We saw the scare campaign during the election. Unfortunately for the opposition, that scare campaign ended last week.

“It doesn’t just fix the mistakes and the underfunding that we inherited but it also delivered exactly what we said we were going to do.”

Originally published as Labor questions the LNP’s commitment to fee-free TAFE funding in Qld