17 June 2012
Some weeks ago, we suggested people Google the term “Victorian TAFE cuts” and you’ll see why The Scan has devoted so much attention to the issue, which has national implications as well as the evident Victorian ones. You’ll come up with more than 40 pages of references over the past four weeks. There are literally hundreds of media reports, in all forms of media –print, radio and TV – and all parts – metropolitan, suburban and regional, interstate and national.
Well you know an issue has real traction when the Melbourne Sun Herald joins the hue and cry. In its 17 June edition, it features a major article on the cuts and in editorial comment states:
… the TAFE cuts have gone too far… The Baillieu government must review some of the TAFE cuts, in particular the ones devastating the regions.
Following TAFE protests at Ballarat on 15 June, items on the protest feature second or third drop on all the evening TV news bulletins in Victoria.
Eventually this issue will go off the boil but it’s going to simmer away in the background as perhaps the issue that defined the Baillieu government. As we have previously observed (The spin of Victorian TAFE cuts ), one suspects that some time or other, minister Peter Hall, who expressed severe misgivings about the TAFE cuts, will be able to turn to cabinet colleagues and have an “I told you so” moment.
