VICTOR HARBOR TAFE CAMPUS

Mr PICCOLO (Light) (14:17): My question is to the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education. Can the minister tell the house about the new TAFE SA campus at Victor Harbor?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education) (14:17): I would like to thank the honourable member for the question. Earlier this month, I had the great opportunity to officially open the new TAFE campus at Victor Harbor—and it was great to see the member for Finniss at that opening.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: He did.

An honourable member: It was great, was it?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: It was great. It might have been an initiative of the now Minister for Water, was it?

The Hon. P. Caica: Yes.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Yes, he is claiming credit for it. The campus will provide an education hub for 550 students in courses that include enrolled nursing, aged care, disability services, business administration and community services. The new campus at Victor Harbor has state-of-the-art training equipment for the current and future educational needs of the region. The development will enhance partnership arrangements with industry, schools, local government and the local hospital while helping to deliver the training needs of the Fleurieu Peninsula.

The TAFE SA campus, adjacent to Victor Harbor High School, Victor Harbor council library and Encounter Centre, helps to complete what will be an educational precinct. Young people can move straight from school into vocational education and training in the same surrounds. The new facility will also attract adult learners by connecting the library and TAFE in the same precinct.

Demand for vocational education and training in the region is growing and so too is the population. The new campus will support that growth and the new site fulfils a long-term community need to better serve the Fleurieu Peninsula with state-of-the-art training. Sustainability principles have been embedded in the design of the new campus, including energy efficient lighting, solar panels, stormwater run-off, rainwater tanks plumbed into toilets and external garden irrigation.

This new campus will help TAFE SA better meet regional needs by increasing training in areas of local demand. An example of this is in aged care, which is predicted to experience local skills shortages due to a changing demographic. Extra courses offered in hospitality, nursing and garden design will amount to an extra 75,000 hours of education, a 100 per cent increase on levels provided by the previous campus.

As some members may be aware, an article was published in The Advertiser on 12 March alleging that the new TAFE campus at Victor Harbor is unsafe. The allegations were made to The Advertiser by a former staff member of the construction company contracted to work on the project from 28 September 2009 to 3 December 2009. On-site works carried out at this time were restricted to the commencement of site preparation and earthworks such as trenching, not to the buildings and to the finishings.

Each of the allegations made have been investigated, and I happily inform the house that they are without substance. The new TAFE SA Victor Harbor building has been assessed by registered private certifier Davis Langdon as being compliant with essential safety provisions under the Development Regulations 2008, regulation 76(3).

The Hon. T.R. Kenyon interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: The Minister for Road Safety says that is his favourite regulation. This includes means of egress, signage, emergency lighting, firefighting services and equipment, and automatic fire detection and alarm systems. SA Water Corporation has also provided a fire service certificate and certificate of compliance covering sanitary plumbing, heated water, cold water, rainwater and temperature control. An electrical certificate of compliance has been issued as required by the Electricity Act 1996, section 61, and administered by the Office of the Technical Regulator.

It is perplexing that such a story was produced, let alone published. However, at least a correction followed some days later. I am sure that the community of Victor Harbor will not let it dampen a good initiative and investment by this government. The new TAFE SA Victor Harbor campus is another example of the state government investing in regional communities and providing state-of-the art education and training for staff, students and the public.

The $9.4 million investment in building a new Victor Harbor campus was part of a $70 million state and Australian government pledge to upgrade and maintain TAFE SA campuses. The $70 million investment is the largest capital program in TAFE SA's history and is being used for a major refurbishment of campuses all over the state. The funding included $6.6 million for TAFE SA at Tea Tree Gully, a $5 million upgrade for hospitality at Regency, $8.7 million for the upgrade of the Noarlunga campus and $12.6 million for the Mount Gambier and Whyalla regional campuses.

We are investing in TAFE, as well as providing $194 million to help create an extra 100,000 training places to keep driving the state's economic prosperity. This increased investment in vocational education and training will help meet this target over six years. Furthermore, the sustainable industries training centre, to be built at Tonsley Park, will build on our commitment to modernise and renew our vocational education and training sector, in conjunction with the release of our Skills For All reform program, ensuring South Australians have the skills for future growth in existing, new and emerging industries.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: I am glad to hear the member for Bragg agrees so strongly with me. This is an exciting time for our state. We are in a strong economic position and set for further growth over the coming years.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: It is good to hear the member for Norwood cheering on; he agrees with me. I am confident that we will—

Mr Marshall: I don't agree with one single solitary thing you have ever said.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: It is great to hear the member for Norwood cheering me on. He agrees with me so strongly; can't help himself. But, member for Norwood, you might upset members on your own side.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr MARSHALL: Point of order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr MARSHALL: I ask the Treasurer to withdraw that comment. I don't support one single thing he has done. I think he is completely hopeless and he should resign.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! If the member feels he has been misrepresented he can make a personal explanation after. Minister, have you finished your response?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: I am sorry to hear the member for Norwood so distressed that we should be building a new TAFE at Victor Harbor, but perhaps he might have some words with his colleague the member for Finniss if he is so upset.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister will finish his reply.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: I am confident that we will be ready for the economic prosperity that is to come.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Good job it's Thursday. The Leader of the Opposition.