THE State Government and Liberal Party must give serious consideration as to how training is funded and delivered in regional areas following winding down of TAFE campuses in the region, according to Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell.
After a decline in front-line staffing at the Mount Gambier TAFE facility, Mr Bell has demanded both sides of mainstream politics outline their intentions for training in the South East ahead of the state election in six months time.
Mr Bell is yet to declare if he will stand at the election after quitting the Liberal party, but continues to serve as an independent while he faces a raft of fraud charges in court following an Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation.
The charges relate to his previous employment in the education sector.
Mr Bell raised fears people in the South East could be forced to travel to Adelaide to receive services previously offered in Mount Gambier.
“If we continue down the current path, I fear we will see the state share of training dollars continue to be funnelled into Adelaide-based facilities such as Tonsley and a smaller share distributed to regional areas,” he said.
Education Minister Susan Close said the State Government had undertaken extensive consultation since July on skills, training and employment in Mount Gambier.
These consultations have been held with a broad range of industry and community stakeholders and will culminate in a major workshop on October 18.
“We take training and skills development in the South East of SA seriously – unlike the local member who has written a press release rather than engage with TAFE or the State Government,” Ms Close said.
“We will continue to work with the local community and employers to ensure local needs are met and are currently developing a Workforce Development Plan for the South East.”
Mr Bell said he would like to see a fully independent board established in Mount Gambier, with known funding.
“The current arrangement involves so much smoke and mirrors that it is difficult to understand what the training budget will be for the South East going forward and what courses will be offered,” Mr Bell said.
“If we had control of our own budget through an independent board we could make decisions to benefit our community and not be dictated to by a city-centric process.”
Liberal Party Shadow Minister for Education John Gardner said his party will detail a firm policy commitment in the area well ahead of the March 17
election.
“The Liberal Party believes South Australia’s prosperity demands vibrant and productive regional communities and that people living in South Australia’s regions deserve great services,” Mr Gardner said.
“Education and training services are just a couple among the many areas where the Labor government has demonstrated a firmly city-centric approach over the last 15 years.”
