NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli and 15 government MPs signed a pledge promising to guarantee TAFE funding and hire more TAFE teachers – ahead of their decision to cut an unprecedented $1.7 billion in education funding for NSW.
"TAFE students and teachers have been lied to by the Education Minister and O'Farrell Government," Opposition Leader John Robertson said today.
"Liberal and National MPs campaigned on signing the TAFE pledge to guarantee funding and increase teachers for their local communities, but are now supporting the biggest attack on education in NSW in more than twenty years.
"Liberal and National MPs have clearly forgotten the value of education in the past 18 months.
"Slashing 800 TAFE workers and increasing TAFE fees will rip apart our vocational education system, see an exodus of experts from NSW and discourage many people from accessing vital skills training.
"Every student, parent, teacher, school and TAFE community in NSW will suffer because of these devastating funding cuts."
The following government MPs signed the 'Invest in TAFE for a Better State' pledge:
Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner
Education Minister Adrian Piccoli
Environment Minister Robyn Parker
Rob Stokes (Pittwater)
Troy Grant (Dubbo)
Leslie Williams (Port Macquarie)
Shelley Hancock (South Coast)
Kevin Anderson (Tamworth)
Tony Issa (Granville)
Lee Evans (Heathcote)
Matt Kean (Hornsby)
Gareth Ward (Kiama)
John Barilaro (Monaro)
Richard Torbay (Northern Tablelands)
Geoff Provest (Tweed)
Darryl McGuire (Wagga Wagga)
"Liberal and National MPs have turned their backs on their local students and school communities by supporting Barry O'Farrell and Adrian Piccoli's $1.7 billion cut to education," Shadow Education Minister, Carmel Tebbutt said.
"At a time of a skills shortage, the O'Farrell Government should be investing more, not less, in skills and training opportunities.
"These mean spirited cuts by the O'Farrell Government will only hurt the students who rely on TAFE to give them a leg up in their working life."
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