ABC News | 9 May 2014
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Laws passed in the Queensland Parliament on 8 May will see an independent body established to manage TAFE assets called the Queensland Training Assets Management Authority.
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TAFE properties will be managed on a “commercial basis” and some could be sold.
The Queensland Training Assets Management Authority Bill is based on a recommendation of the Costello Commission of Audit.
Public Works Minister Tim Mander says the legislation is not about selling assets and will not lead to the reduction of TAFE services.
Mander says it merely allows private training providers better access to underused TAFE facilities.
TAFEs across the state are empty 60 per cent of the time. This Bill responds to the demand from training organisations across the state to access valuable facilities and boost the provision of VET statewide by properly utilising assets that have been running on empty long before this Government came to office.
However, the Opposition says the LNP Government is planning to sell-off TAFE assets so the private sector can take a larger share of the vocational training market.
Opposition spokeswoman Yvette D’Ath says the LNP is commercialising the sector at students’ expense.