Jim H.
The massive assault on the TAFE system in Victoria looms larger than ever before. This was made clear by the leaking of a government confidential document to the ABC.
For those who may have doubted the real intention; to gut skills training and opportunity for the majority of the working people, in line with turning the Australian economy from making what we need, into a quarry for mineral resources and a springboard for investment by mainly American, British and other major global corporations into our region.
Big business is holding the reigns and demanding that a greater share of government resources be turned over to them.
In the future intended by big business, there will be no largely self-sufficient economy, with the broad range and depth of industries that is required for a high standard of living and a fair society. With this future, there is no need to train Australians in the range of skills that are necessary for an economy and society that is balanced and able to stand up independently on its own two feet. Proper education is being made a privilege for a few.
The overall affect will be to make Australia more dependent on foreign investors and the importation of more of our needs from overseas. The TAFE cuts serve this. While this is presently most intense in Victoria, a similar pattern is emerging around the country.
Australians want a different future
It is not the future that Australians want and need. What we need is an Australia that is under our own control, that we own, that is able to make things, to innovate and build a strong foundation for the future. We need a society that is based on caring for each other. To do this priority must be given investing sufficiently on developing the necessary skills. Expenditure on education must be raised, and this is definitely something worth fighting for.
The Bailieu government is a key representative of the dominant big business interests. It cares little for the type of economy and society that most Australians wish to have. Their true mindset is exposed by the leak.
Contents of the leak
The leaked document summarises millions of dollars of cuts, closures and sell offs. On the chopping block are Swinburne University’s Lilydale and Prahran campuses. Others under serious threat are Bendigo’s Castlemaine Campus, the Central Gippsland Yallourn site, Kangan’s Moreland campus and NMIT’s Ararat campus. Victoria University is likely to close its Sunbury site.
TAFEs have been forced to abandon many courses. Swinburne will have to raise fees in the region of 22 - 26% in the short term, just to keep the reduced course load going. Other TAFEs will also have to raise their fees.
Regional TAFEs will be hardest hit, with 100 jobs going by the end of the year. Sunraysia will cut spending by $3 million. Chisholm’s Institute’s Mornington Peninsula, Bass Coast and Cranbourne campuses are at serious risk next year.
Australian Education Union leader Mary Bluett said that the exposure brought no surprises.
TAFE CEO’s have publicly opposed the cuts. This is very positive indeed and it assists teachers, unions, students and communities to fight back. There has been a broad range of activities, including meetings, actions on campuses, and rallies at politician’s offices. A number of large and vocal demonstrations have taken place in Melbourne and regional centres. Notable regional examples were the protests in Bendigo and Ballarat that brought together people from many walks of life.
Action against cuts is building
Action is building great unity in opposition to the cuts. A massive majority of Victorians do not want the cuts. It is understood that this is an act of vandalism that will bring about a great deal of economic and social damage. The Baillieu government becomes more unpopular with every passing day.
Church groups have joined in to oppose the cuts. Even the Australian Industry Group (normally a strong backer of the Coalition) has sought to distance itself, labelling the cuts as an absurdity. There is a fear that it has gone too far. Farmer group are also being vocal in their opposition. Agricultural and animal husbandry and other farming related courses are vulnerable. The Australian Education Union, National Tertiary Education Union and the Independent Teachers Union are working together like they never have before.
This is a battle that is going to become even more intense. While action so far is something to be proud of, those involved know that the situation will demand continuously working out the best strategy and tactics to employ.
A lot can be learned from the experience of the Kennett era school closures. This assault was brought to a stop by appropriate union and community action. Highlights were the Richmond, Northland and Fitzroy secondary collages, where teachers, students and parents, with broad based community support, were able to serve as focal points. All dared to think and act outside the box. The schools were saved and the government forced to abandon further school closures.
The situation is a little different with today’s TAFE closures. Strategy and tactics will be different. But a boldness to act creatively is still needed to stop the attack in its tracks.
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