Goulburn MP Pru Goward announced the State Government’s change of heart late Tuesday.

Ms Goward said Minister for Skills and Regional Development John Barilaro was happy to grant the moratorium.

Mr Barilaro would work through issues the parents had raised in a meeting with Ms Goward and Hume MP Angus Taylor.

“That will allow us time to sort out conflicting information and to decide whether to tender out the facility or explore some other option,” Ms Goward said.

Mr Barilaro’s office confirmed he had asked TAFE Illawarra to go back to the drawing board regarding the facility.

“The NSW Government has heard the concerns from the community and local MP,” a spokesperson for Mr Barilaro said.

“We have asked TAFE Illawarra to explore other viable options for ... childcare services at Goulburn campus.”

At the same time, the Minister said he understood the centre had been “operating at a loss over a number of years”.

“This of course impacts the ability of the Institute to deliver other services across the region,” he said.

“On average, less than 10 per cent of children at the centre have a parent currently enrolled at TAFE NSW.”

Parents are cautiously welcoming the news. They had previously asked for a 12-month moratorium on the closure, allowing them to compile a feasibility study to keep the centre open.

Amanda Brown was among those who strongly lobbied for the facility’s survival. She has two children at the centre.

“It’s positive [Pru Goward] spoke up for us and that Mr Barilaro has acknowledged our concerns,” she said.

“However, we need a commitment of a 12-month moratorium to enable security for parents, students and staff. Anything less will not allow the centre a full opportunity to succeed.

“We are waiting to hear exactly what this statement means. We need clarification and a definitive timeframe.”

The Minister’s office did not respond to questions on whether a 12-month moratorium would apply and whether TAFE Illawarra would work with parents on their ideas. 

THE action group called for the ‘stay of execution’ in a November 3 meeting with the two MPs.

Illawarra TAFE told parents in September the facility would close in December.

Management and Ms Goward claimed the centre had been losing money. The group asked for financial figures, but parent Byron Stein said TAFE had refused to supply comprehensive data.

Ms Goward had agreed at that meeting to recommend the moratorium, and later told the Post the group had a strong case. Mr Stein said the meeting was “positive” and “a good outcome”.

Hume MP Angus Taylor was “keen to retain jobs in the region, and this asset,” Mr Stein said.

The group wants a 12-month feasibility study, including promotion opportunities and to access financial information. Mr Stein said they would lodge a Government Information Public Access (GIPA) request for these and a PriceWaterhouse Coopers TAFE childcare review in 2011/12.

Parents said TAFE’s inaction to promote the centre had led to the so-called financial loss.

Ahead of the meeting the parents has compared costs and availability of other Goulburn child care centres and whether they met national quality standards, which TAFE’s centre exceeds.

Parents also told the MPs the centre had never been put out to tender: Ms Goward had been surprised by this, saying TAFE told her it had but that there had been no takers, Mr Stein said.

Ms Goward confirmed this remark.

“We believe we can make this viable by increasing capacity and fees,” Mr Stein said. 

Parents had “overwhelmingly said yes” to increased fees as they were still cheaper than other centres.

Some had already chosen alternative child care for next year, but Mr Stein said he understood they’d return if the TAFE centre stayed open. 

“They are supporting what we’re doing,” he said.

The action has not received a formal response to their request from Mr Barilaro, and are meantime distributing flyers in letterboxes, calling for public support of their campaign.