Welcome to the TAFE Hotline. This message was recorded on Friday, 26 May and concerns the new TAFE Budget & Job Cuts Campaign. For up-to-date information on the Salaries & Status Campaign, please ring 9217 2300 or click here for Schools hotline.

On 23 May, the NSW Carr Labor Government delivered its 2000/2001 Budget and in doing so, took the axe to TAFE again.

Under the Carr Government, NSW education expenditure as a proportion of total expenditure, has plummeted from 26% to the figure shown in the Budget papers of 22%. The Budget provides only a 0.6% increase for education (compared to last year's actual expenditure) and is much less than the expected inflation rate of about 6%.

The NSW Budget requires 730 more full-time equivalent TAFE jobs to be cut, even though TAFE student numbers are expected to surge by 38% to 623,000 this year due to Olympics related courses. The 730 jobs, if restricted to "permanent" staff, would represent a further loss of about 8% of full-time teachers.

TAFE expenditure in 2000/2001 is proposed to be reduced by $57 million or 4.5%. About $15 million of this cut could be attributed to the Federal Howard Government "growth through efficiencies" policy. When allowance is made for inflation, the NSW budget cut equates to $133 million or 10.5% in real terms.

The impact of these second year in a row attacks on TAFE will further damage the quality of TAFE student educational outcomes, and place an intolerable increase in workload on teachers.

Members are urged to hold Branch meetings as soon as possible to organise an appropriate strong response to their local NSW Members of Parliament and to fax or write to the Premier, Mr Carr calling on him to reverse these budget cuts.

Federation will consider any recommendations for member action arising from the 16 June 2000 TAFE TA Council meeting and advise members accordingly.

Thank you for calling the hotline. Your support of Federation policy is in the best interests of public education.