Aquilina told Seaforth closure causing problems

By Kerri Carr

Education Minister John Aquilina was greeted by 40 demonstrators protesting about the closure of Seaforth TAFE when he arrived to open the new Engineering Skills Centre at Brookvale TAFE on July 18.

TAFE Organiser Lolita Barratt said students who joined in the demonstration managed to speak to the Minister as he arrived for the function.

'They were able to express to him their concerns with problems they are having at Brookvale (the campus where most teachers and students have been transferred), namely the lack of space and resources,' she said.

They asked him to reopen Seaforth TAFE.

Mr Aquilina spoke with Seaforth TAFE Federation Representative Jim Bannister and Ms Barratt.

Mr Bannister handed the Minister a letter and a bundle of petition papers.

The letter replied to a letter Mr Aquilina wrote to Mr Bannister about Seaforth TAFE.

The petition papers were some of the 10,000 signatures gathered since the closure of Seaforth TAFE in December 1999.

The Minister also assured Ms Barratt that his office was liaising with the Labor Council to arrange a meeting between the Labor Council, Federation Senior Officers and himself to discuss the future of Seaforth College.

In other Seaforth TAFE news, the Seaforth picket was on the agenda at Manly Council's July 17 meeting with a view to having the picket removed.

But the plan backfired.

Save Seaforth TAFE Campaign committee member Tony Griffin addressed the Council meeting and some Councillors spoke in support of saving Seaforth College.

Ms Barratt said the meeting not only recommended that the picket be supported and maintained but members of Council also endorsed a vote to donate $300 to the Save Seaforth Campaign.

"There is still very strong support for saving Seaforth College and for the defence of public education," she said.

Kerri Carr is the Sub-editor

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