Today I have joined Jihab Dib MP, Shadow Minister for Skills and TAFE to demand animmediate stop to the axing of staff across TAFE NSW, and a commitment by the Government to restore TAFE to its rightful place as the State's premiere training organisation.

200 TAFE staff across NSW will be without jobs before Christmas in what is a blatant and cruel attempt to further rundown TAFE.

Over the past 8 years, the Liberal and Nationals Government has systematically destroyed TAFE by slashing 6,000 jobs and stood idly as enrolments have declined by over 175,000.

Jihad Dib has called on the government to stop the slashing of jobs and making cuts to TAFE:

A decision to sack people 5 days before Christmas is cruel and heartless. At a time when National skills shortages are their height of desperation and the rate of youth unemployment is rife, we need to be looking at positive investments into TAFE.

Member for Charlestown, Jodie Harrison said the axing of jobs for TAFE staff were not only cruel but a cynical ploy to run down TAFE NSW.

I have been given information that nine TAFE jobs will be lost at the Newcastle and Tighes Hill campuses. This will directly affect the students from Lake Macquarie who are counting on TAFE to give them the quality education that they need in order to thrive in the workforce.

Jodie added: Unfortunately, the axing of staff and continuous cuts within our TAFE is a regular occurrence. This will have a huge impact on our local TAFE."



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