Josh Willie MP
Labor Leader
10 May 2026
Ellis must come clean on TasTAFE job cuts
TasTAFE job and course cuts are just the tip of the iceberg, and new information shows the Rockliff Government still has no real plan to protect the training Tasmania needs.
Minister Felix Ellis has confirmed TasTAFE’s announced cuts will deliver recurrent savings of more than $5.8 million a year, with one-off exit costs of $3.6 million. That means about $23.2 million in savings, or $19.6 million once exit costs are deducted.
That is less than half of the $45 million TasTAFE’s CEO says the organisation has been tasked find.
Minister Ellis must now explain whether these savings are part of the $45 million target, or on top of it. If they are part of it, where is the remaining $26 million coming from?
The first round of cuts already includes at least 56 TasTAFE jobs and several courses. On the Government’s own numbers, dozens more staff could still be at risk.
Tasmania needs tradies, builders, sparkies, nurses, aged care workers, early childhood educators, farm workers and people with practical skills to keep the state moving.
After 13 years of Liberal waste, Premier Rockliff has put Eric Abetz in charge of cutting critical services like TasTAFE to pay for it.
Skilled industries need skilled workers, trained by skilled teachers, and TasTAFE must be saved from Eric Abetz’ cuts.
