Page 4984 - Week 16 - Tuesday, 26 November 1991
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
In closing, Mr Speaker, I would like to suggest that in these days of recession we should not be cutting TAFE courses. Maybe we should be looking at increasing the TAFE courses. I note that some additional money is to be provided to the ACT under the Federal Government program for the increase in TAFE services. It seems to me that we now have a perfect opportunity, with people, particularly young people, out there looking for work and looking for opportunities. It may well be that the provision of a course in TAFE during this period of recession will mean that the ACT very quickly can pick up the slack when the recession turns around, because we will have people trained and ready to go. That is an issue that we have to look at very carefully.
I would also like to comment briefly on Narellan House. I know that this matter has been raised ad nauseam in the Assembly. I trust that the Minister is not going to seek to use that site to make a quick buck. Some other opportunities may be provided in conjunction with the operation of TAFE. TAFE might consider developing it as a training facility much the same as the School of Tourism and Hospitality.
It would be quite possible, I suggest, to operate on that site a quite well set up three-star facility for use by visitors to the ACT, part of which could be used for student accommodation. The operation and management of the centre could be part of the TAFE program. Students who are operating in the hospitality area could be given the responsibility, under supervision of course, of running and operating their own motel/hotel-type facility in a most appropriate location close to the city. That may be an operation that the Government may like to consider, in conjunction with private enterprise, in order to make sure that there is a facility that can be used by TAFE, that there is sufficient student accommodation close to the TAFE area, and that the site, which is critical to the ACT because of its heritage value, is retained and maintained.
MS MAHER (11.17): I wish to endorse the comments made by Mrs Nolan and Mr Jensen with regard to the Narrabundah outreach and Tuggeranong link facilities. Both of those facilities provide a very good service. Betty Dawson can be commended for her work, as well as Vivienne Joice and the other people involved in the Tuggeranong link facility. Those sorts of services really do need to be expanded. I would like to see the community houses and neighbourhood centres utilised more for TAFE outreach courses and adult learning centres.
I am looking forward to getting copies of the ACT response to the National Plan of Action for Women in TAFE and the report of the consultancy, which I commissioned while I was Executive Deputy within the Alliance Government, on the education and school development options for women in the ACT. Both reports will have a big impact on education and
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .