LETTER: Strangling TAFE to meet agenda

Pru Goward’s response and attitude to the closure of the TAFE Child Care Centre has left me utterly incensed and speechless. I am so glad she chose to put finger to keyboard as she has now laid bare her utter contempt for the electorate she purports to represent.

Under her government’s stewardship, the TAFE system has been wilfully dismembered, akin to a whale on the deck of a Japanese “research” vessel.

The real heart of the matter is that the TAFE system in general is being strangled by a state government hell bent on ridding itself of responsibility for education in this state.

Course fees that have soared over recent years, coupled with staffing cutbacks have certainly made the TAFE a largely, nonviable entity for people wanting to either enter a trade, upskill or reskill.

This government has made no secret of the fact that they intend to transition TAFE training and education to private training enterprise and hopefully sell off the real estate to fund some other folly or just boost the state coffers…all at the expense of a public right to be educated.

The government fully realise that if you strangle and starve something long enough then full blown closure (death) will ultimately follow…and then blame the whole premeditated scenario on “falling numbers.”

What really galls me is Pru’s “farewell at a distance” attitude to the staff of the local facility. Should it not be her personal responsibility as the local member to take a more hands on approach to these displaced workers and their families…as indeed it was her government’s ultimate decision to jettison them?

But I digress.

The master plan may well be that if this government continues to decimate the key services in this city, then there will be no ultimate need for a new hospital or improved public transport or any other future infrastructure… as you can then blame the “falling numbers” and the “need to pay” game.

And no Pru, I am not a disgruntled Labor Party hack…I have no political allegiances at all and just seek to see our city grow rather than be ripped apart by politicians with a short term agenda.

Your letter was an affront to the citizens of this great city and one would hope that you re-think your position and come out swinging for the people you represent, either in word or deed.

Rod Kelly, North Goulburn.