118 staff, 63 TasTAFE teachers facing Abetz’ axe

In Budget Estimates today, Minister Felix Ellis confirmed the Liberals are hiking TAFE fees by seven per cent while sacking teachers and cutting courses.

Documents provided to Labor under RTI reveal that in 2024/25 the TasTAFE total FTE was 865.

The same documents show that in 2029/30 it is planned to be 747, a reduction of 118, including a reduction of 63 teacher FTE.

It is impossible to believe the Liberals can achieve these targets without greatly impacting course delivery.

Skilled industries need skilled workers, trained by skilled teachers and TAFE is an invaluable institution to make sure that happens.

But under the Liberals TAFE is in jeopardy. They have gone to successive elections promising 100 extra TasTAFE teachers, which they never delivered and now they are actually looking to sack 63.

After 13 years of Liberal waste, Premier Rockliff has put Eric Abetz in charge of sacking TAFE teachers to pay for it.

TasTAFE needs to be saved from Premier Rockliff and Eric Abetz’s cuts so we can train the workforce Tasmania needs.