NSW fees among highest, even before hike

by Phil Bradley

Federation members have been contacting their NSW MPs to oppose the disastrous TAFE fee increases of up to 300 per cent proposed for next year.

If we are to make another fees breakthrough before 2004, more members need to ring/fax/e-mail their local MP now to urge them to support a review aimed at reducing the proposed TAFE fee increases.

A National Centre for Vocational Education Research report by Louise Watson, "What do TAFE students pay?" has provided 2003 data on fees and charges, and confirms that NSW TAFE tuition fees are already either the highest or among the highest in Australia for most courses. Although NSW TAFE exemption policy is better than other states, the policy does not exempt young people at risk, spouses of low income earners and the "working poor".

The fees issue is causing great concern to the Federal ALP, as Federal Education Minister Dr Brendan Nelson continues to have great fun contrasting the NSW ALP's 300 per cent TAFE increases with the Coalition's "much smaller" 30 per cent university HECS increases.

The NSW Government cuts to TAFE funding in real terms in the last five years is equivalent to a $450 million shortfall this financial year alone. The NSW (and Federal) Government must be lobbied to restore funding, before TAFE delivery quality and student services suffer even more. Restoring even $100 million per year would enable TAFE to be fee free.

Phil Bradley is the Assistant General Secretary (Post School Education).

The following is a draft letter to NSW MPs who have provided members with a form response from Education and Training Minister Dr Andrew Refshauge about TAFE fee increases. A modified version of this letter could also be used for sending to MPs in the first instance.

Thank you for making representations on my behalf to Dr Refshauge regarding the outrageous increase in TAFE NSW fees proposed for 2004 of up to 300 per cent compared to fees in 2003.

I believe that the reply received did not, however, properly represent the true situation regarding the TAFE NSW 2004 fees proposal. Rather than bringing 'NSW into line with other states', the unreasonable fee increase will in fact drastically exacerbate the situation confirmed in a recent National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) publication by Louise Watson, that the TAFE NSW tuition fees in 2003 are already either the most expensive or among the most expensive in Australia for most courses.

This NCVER Review found that in 2003 at the Diploma level, NSW already has the second highest tuition fees in Australia. Furthermore, "for courses 100 hours or less, NSW is the most expensive provider" and "for any course at the diploma level involving less than 320 training hours, NSW is the most expensive provider in Australia". For part time courses of 215 hours, NSW has the equal third highest fee. The dramatic TAFE fee increases proposed for 2004 will further exacerbate this problem and prevent tens of thousands of students from going to TAFE.

I believe that the fees proposed for next year will be especially unfair for women. In 2003, women's enrolments in higher award level courses made up to 41 per cent of all women's enrolments in TAFE NSW. It is at these higher levels, Certificate IV and Diploma, that the impact of the fees will be the most significant. I have heard that TAFE Institute budgets might again be cut in Semester 1, 2004. This is despite the fact that after allowing for inflation and growth in student hours, TAFE NSW's Budget has been cut by 25 per cent in the last five years. This is equivalent to a shortfall of $450 million in 2003/04 alone. Despite this cut, the NSW Government is trying to further reduce its contribution to TAFE by raising an extra $28 million from students with its big increase in TAFE fees in Semester 1 of 2004.

TAFE budgets for the 2003/04 financial year have just been received, and I understand that there will have to be further reductions in course offerings next year. Why should TAFE students suffer yet again?

I urge you:

• to raise the issue of TAFE fees in the Parliament, by seeking a review and additional funding from the Treasurer to enable TAFE fees to be affordable to all; and
• to support a significant increase in TAFE funding in real terms for Semester 1, 2004 and in future budgets.

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Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005