Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie asks Prime Minister for up to $100 million for TasTAFE

Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie has revealed she wants up to $100 million for TasTAFE in exchange for her support of a Scott Morrison plan.

JACQUI Lambie has revealed she wants up to $100 million for TasTAFE in exchange for her support of Scott Morrison’s plan to redirect $3.9 billion from education projects into a disaster relief fund.

Senator Lambie said the failing vocational training provider’s underfunding, understaffing, failing infrastructure and outdated equipment was being played down.

She calculated it needed a $50 million-$100 million funding injection.

Senator Jacqui Lambie. Picture: KYM SMITH

“I’ve seen machines that are literally last century and this is what our kids are training on,” she said. “I have seen the state of a few of our TAFEs and had feedback from Tasmanians complaining about equipment and a lack of teachers.

“I am still getting feedback on the state of our TAFEs from the Hodgman Government. They are investing $15.5 million and good on them but even they say this is not enough.”

It was announced yesterday TasTAFE’s Launceston CBD campus would be closed by the end of July next year.

Labor TAFE spokeswoman Michelle O’Byrne said the news that the campus was set to close was concerning.

During Question Time yesterday, Ms O’Byrne asked Premier Will Hodgman to commit that the Launceston campus would remain open.

Mr Hodgman said TasTAFE’s Launceston operations would be consolidated at the start of next year with a move to Alanvale.

Premier Will Hodgman. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“The Launceston city campus is under-utilised and its classrooms are outdated,’’ he said. Mr Hodgman said the northern operations would be centralised into a modern campus, featuring new student amenities and upgraded facilities. “Alanvale is the ideal campus,’’ he said.

The Government announced it would spend $4 million to overhaul existing facilities at Alanvale and $1 million to update nursing facilities at Clarence.

“At a time when the Government has accepted the need to move the university into the city, it seems counter-productive to reduce TAFE city offerings,” Ms O’Byrne said.

Michelle O'Byrne. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

“There are extensive problems with the current infrastructure at the Alanvale campus which will need considerable investment to bring it up to standard and there’s a genuine risk that course offerings will be reduced.”

Ms O’Byrne said TasTAFE had been “plagued by” course cancellations, delays, staff shortages and inadequate infrastructure under the Hodgman Government.

TasTAFE chief executive Jenny Dodd said consolidating TasTAFE’s northern campuses at Alanvale would provide students with a better learning experience. An architect has been appointed to produce a “masterplan” for the Alanvale redevelopment.

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The Government is yet to announce what will happen with the CBD buildings.

Education minister Jeremy Rockliff said the move would centralise TasTAFE’s Northern offerings in one refurbished, modern campus, and deliver significant cost savings to be reinvested into facilities and equipment.