Andrew Rylewski and Fiona Johnson from the Western Sydney Free TAFE student group won $100 for the best student sign at the rally for their “ladder of opportunity”, seen here in front of NSW Parliament House.

TAFE teachers strike over fees and funding

By Kerri Carr

TAFE teachers and students rallied in Sydney and some regional centres on March 10 to oppose funding cuts and fee increases.

About 700 people rallied in Farrer Place, adjacent to the Department of Education and Training and the government office block in Governor Macquarie Tower, and then marched on NSW Parliament House before rallying in Martin Place.

The rallies formed part of 24-hour strike action.

TAFE TA Secretary Linda Simon told the rally in Farrer Place that TAFE students and potential students must not be used as ammunition in a game of politics between state and federal governments.

She said some students were facing course fee hikes of 227 per cent.

NSW Labor Council Secretary John Roberston said the state and federal governments had to "stop the blame game" over funding.

"TAFE is a second chance education system, not a second class system," he said.

"We are sick of rallying outside Governor Macquarie Tower.

"They [governments] need to take responsibility for the things they are supposed to do, without having to be asked.

"We want properly funded education...[and] we don't want fees that restrict access [to courses].

"Everyone should have access, irrespective of their background or income," Mr Robertson added.

TAFE TA President Geoff Turnbull told the Martin Place rally: "We'd rather not be here. We'd rather be back in our classrooms teaching and the students here would rather be back in their classrooms learning."

He said the reasons they were not in their classrooms "rest squarely with the Carr-Egan Labor Government".

"I say to Carr, Egan and Refshauge, we will not stand idly by and allow you to dismantle TAFE.

"We are going to fight you every inch of the way and if that means coming back, then we'll be back."

Federation President Maree O'Halloran said there were two doctors running education in NSW [Federal Education Minister Dr Brendan Nelson and NSW Education Minister Dr Andrew Refshauge].

"I wish I could tell you it was Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, but it's Dr Jekyll and Dr Jekyll," she said.

Ms O'Halloran said the Federal Government was responsible for some TAFE funding cuts and the state government had cut TAFE funding by 25 per cent in five years.

"It is a combination of TAFE fee increases and budget cuts that is hurting TAFE and the community," Ms O'Halloran added.

Meetings were also held at Lismore, Wollongong, Orange, Albury, Newcastle and Port Macquarie.

Doctor vs doctor

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