Fee-free sausage sizzle and morning tea

By Peter de Graaff

Riverina TAFE colleges have held fee-free events to oppose the proposed increase in TAFE fees.

Griffith TAFE teachers held a fee-free sausage sizzle and TAFE Fees Forum on September 9 for students to ask questions of local politicians.

About 100 students and teachers participated.

Two students gave speeches about the impact of the fee increases on them next year.

Griffith TAFE Teachers Association branch invited Labor MLC Tony Catanzariti and Nationals MLA Adrian Piccoli to attend the forum to answer questions prepared by staff and students.

Adrian Piccoli gave a short speech about his concerns that this was an attack of infrastructure and service delivery to country NSW. Tony Catanzariti gave a last minute apology.

Griffith TAFE Federation Representative Brett Hunter said: "Federation members have noticed that the ALP caucus was prepared to debate rolling back the poker machine tax and this was only defeated by a split decision," Mr Hunter said.

"The new TAFE fees are far more cruel than any poker machine tax because these fees will make it difficult for the most disadvantaged members of our community to find training opportunities which will allow them a future.

"Education Minister Andrew Refshauge has claimed that the increases to NSW TAFE fees only bring this state into line with the rest of Australia. This is not true. TAFE fees in Queensland for example are capped at a maximum of $672 per year. In Victoria the maximum tuition fee for a student in a centrally funded course is $500 per calendar year. In NSW from 2004 a Certificate IV will increase almost 300 per cent from $260 to $750 and an Associate Diploma $710 to $1200.

"We call on the Government to reverse this decision and provide proper funding for TAFE NSW which values its service to the community as a public education institution," Mr Hunter said. Teachers at Deniliquin TAFE campus held a fee-free morning tea for students on September 10 to allow students the opportunity to find out more about the TAFE fee increases. About 70-80 students and teachers participated.

Many of the students who participated in the event were from the areas of general education, work opportunities for women and other programs which will be impacted next year.

National MLA Adrian Piccoli attended the morning tea and spoke with students. Students spoke to him about their concerns.

Deniliquin TAFE Federation Representative Susan Carey said students and members of the community wrote letters to Minister for Education Andrew Refshauge to express their concern at the impact which these increases would have upon them.

"Rural communities like those serviced by Deniliquin TAFE have been hit hard by the drought and low incomes will make it difficult for our students to access training opportunities at TAFE," Ms Carey said.

"We call on the Government and members of the ALP Caucus to recognise the role of TAFE as the pre-eminent provider of training in NSW and to ensure that the TAFE fee structure for 2004, which is in fact a tax on students, is re-considered."

Peter de Graaff is a TAFE Organiser.

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September 2003 contents