Federal Government Ignores Bush Education Needs

Member for Lingiari and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia and Indigenous Affairs Warren Snowdon said an Australian Technical College for Darwin was a clear admission the Government is ditching the bush.

Mr Snowdon said the proposed College, whose funding was announced yesterday by the Minister for Vocational Education and Training, Mr Hardgrave, was little more than a favour for an ailing political colleague.

'Far from making a serious investment in the Territory's future, the Minister has come along with nothing but a shot in the arm for the Member for Solomon,' he said.

'And he's gone back on the commitment he made with the original announcement that these Colleges would respond to local skills needs and offer choice and flexibility.

'The Territory Government says it won't meet our needs and teachers are saying it completely ignores the needs of remote communities to build up skills.

'But the Minister has been most disingenuous in sidestepping these questions.

'He says where an Australian Technical College goes is up to the community and his Darwin mate says the money is going where the jobs are needed.

'It was clear there was never any intention to address the real needs of the Territory and, while the funding is welcome, it falls far short of the skills training needs of young Territorians.

'So where is the strategy to deal with our skills shortage?

'Where is the choice and flexibility for the people of remote communities and towns like Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, all of whom who want their young people trained to take on real jobs?

'This is less about servicing real needs than about short-term political gain and for that they're prepared to abandon the bush communities of Northern Australia,' Mr Snowdon said.

2006-09-27