TAFE NSW

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-109624

Hansard session: Fifty-Seventh Parliament, First Session (57-1)

TAFE NSW

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (14:29):

:41 My question is addressed to the Premier. Will the Premier update the House on TAFE reform?

The SPEAKER:

I call the member for Keira to order for the second time.

Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN (WilloughbyPremier) (14:31):

—:14 As I outlined last week and this week, we are a government that is passionate about education in all its forms. We announced three key plans that our Government is absolutely committed to: decluttering the curriculum, raising standards in the classroom by supporting our great teachers, and ensuring—I am sure some of the young people in the gallery today will be open to this—that we have greater opportunities—

An Opposition member interjected

[.]

Mr Speaker, can I ask you to stop the clock every time there is an interruption so that I can speak?

The SPEAKER:

I will keep your request in mind. Order! The Clerk will stop the clock. I call the member for Keira to order for the third time.

Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN:

Irrespective of what a young person chooses to do, whether it is to adopt a trade, to go to university or to go to TAFE, we want to make sure they have the opportunity to get the best jobs available.

The SPEAKER:

I call the member for Canterbury to order for the third time. I remind members to turn off their mobile phones. I call the member for Kogarah to order for the second time.

Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN:

I do not know about those opposite but to me this is a very important issue.

The SPEAKER:

I call the member for Swansea to order for the first time.

Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN:

When I went to university, if it were not for the Higher Education Contribution Scheme I would not have been able to afford to get a degree.

The SPEAKER:

The Clerk will stop the clock. I have made it pretty clear that when the Premier or anyone else is speaking seriously to a question I expect silence. The Premier is speaking seriously to an important issue. If members persist—and I say this to the Leader of the Opposition—they will be removed from the Chamber.

Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN:

What is important to me is to make sure that advanced manufacturing jobs that are currently emerging are able to be gained in New South Wales. Recently we heard the devastating news that Holden will not be producing any more vehicles, and we have heard about retail outlets reducing their floor space. We need to ensure that those emerging industries—whether it is 3D printing, robotics or other forms of advanced manufacturing—have a place in New South Wales. I commend TAFE for the outstanding work it does, because many TAFE courses are the best in the world. But we need to make sure that not only do we build on the success of the current courses—which not only are popular but also are getting jobs—but also that we have those courses available which are going to fill those jobs which have not even been created. I place on record how proud I am and I commend the Deputy Premier, when he had this responsibility, for ensuring 100,000 free apprenticeships in New South Wales. That is a policy that will continue.

The SPEAKER:

I call the member for Rockdale to order for the second time.

Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN:

Another important aspect is to support all the scholarships available through the TAFE system. When we build the aerotropolis we know that we will have 20‑odd companies that specialise in advanced manufacturing. We need the courses to train people to fill those jobs.

The SPEAKER:

I call the member for Blue Mountains to order for the first time.

Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN:Extension of time

When the Government looks at the Connected Learning Centres in the bush, it wants to make sure that courses are available in advanced genomics and in all those areas that are making sure agribusiness is front and centre. The Government will make sure that all those opportunities for future jobs are available. I want to make sure that not only are our motivations completely pure, but who in Australia are better placed to lead this review for the Government than Mr David Gonski and Professor Shergold? I am proud of the fact that New South Wales was the first State to sign up to Gonski. The results of that education investment are being borne all through the State, whether it is in the city or in the bush. []

The SPEAKER:

I call the member for Swansea to order for the second time.

Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN:

When it comes to TAFE, I want students to hold their heads up high and know that TAFE and university are as good as each other.

The SPEAKER:

I call the member for Auburn to order for the first time.

Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN:

And that TAFE and university can be talked about in the same sentence.

The SPEAKER:

I call the member for Port Stephens to order for the second time.

Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN:

If members opposite have any constructive views on this issue, they should—

The SPEAKER:

I call the member for Gosford to order for the first time. I call the member for Port Stephens to order for the third time.

Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN:

In relation to the contribution the Government makes to TAFE, it is all about ensuring that we keep what is great about that organisation. I am incredibly proud that Minister Lee was a former TAFE teacher, as was his father. He is a second-generation TAFE teacher that will be leading this work. When we look at the best models around the world we see they have many elements of what the TAFE system has currently. They also have an eye to the future. That is what I want to have in New South Wales.

The SPEAKER:

I call the member for Lakemba to order for the first time.

Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN:

I want us to keep not only all the things that are great about the organisation but also make sure that we have courses available and industry input that will allow people to get jobs which currently do not exist. The Government wants to make sure that people have access to jobs when they are mid career or at the end of their career because the Government knows that disruption is the norm. The Liberal‑Nationals Coalition wants to make sure that TAFE is equipped to deal with those challenges because it is the party of the workers.