Page 205 - Week 01 - Thursday, 15 February 1990
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MR KAINE: You asked me the question. I am answering it to the best of my ability.
Mr Whalan: Well, that is pretty limited.
MR KAINE: As a result of the administration of the TAFE implementing the directions given by your Government, by your Treasurer and by the person who was then responsible for the TAFE - the deputy Leader of the Opposition today - the TAFE now finds that it cannot enrol all of the students who wish to be enrolled.
As to the second part of the question, you say that there are ample enrolments. As I understand it, there are classes where there are full enrolments and those have been adopted because the teaching and other resources are available. Over and above those there were applicants who would, if accepted, form small classes of less than the optimal number. Because of the lack of finance, because of the cuts that were made by your Government, the TAFE management has had to determine that it cannot accommodate those extra students that do not make up a full normal class compliment. These, I understand, Mr Wood, are the facts. I hope that that fully answers your question.
MR WOOD: I have a supplementary question, if I could seek the Chief Minister's indulgence. We can make point scoring across the chamber here but, for example, there is a young woman who has left a job to start a new career on the basis that she was going to have two years' full-time study, and that is not now the case. Mr Kaine, would you give a commitment to review what has happened and have a look at it to see if this student and other students whose careers are in some jeopardy can be looked after as best possible?
MR KAINE: Yes, the matter is being reviewed, not only by the people involved at the TAFE but also by the Treasury, to see whether or not any adjustments can be made. I understand the basis of your question, that there are people whose future careers have been placed in jeopardy by this - in particular, some apprentices. It is very difficult to get an apprenticeship in Canberra, and once you have got one it is very disappointing to be told then that you cannot undertake the necessary classroom study that is required in order to pursue that apprenticeship.
The fact is - and you would know - there is no flexibility in this year's budget. I am assured by the former Treasurer that it was a fairly tight-knit budget. There is no flexibility there and there is no available money that can be provided to add to the budget that was approved for the TAFE by your Treasurer. So the only possibility is that we can adjust the funds that are currently available in some way such that more can be put into students in classrooms - where I would expect the money to be - rather than in some overhead expenditure.
MR WOOD: But you are looking at it, are you?
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