Vocational Education and Training

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): My supplementary to the Premier is: how many of the forecast 500 TAFE redundancies through to 2017 will be in regional South Australia?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:20): I thank the honourable member for his question. As the Premier has already said, the reason for the current reforms to TAFE is to ensure that we strengthen TAFE in the regions—

An honourable member: Why?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Well, we made it very clear last week we are strengthening TAFE to make sure that TAFE does two things—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Mr Speaker, does the Leader of the Opposition want an answer or not?

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Finniss is so close to leaving. Minister.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: That would be a great loss. As the minister said last week, the major emphasis behind the changes to TAFE is to make sure we strengthen TAFE and we make sure TAFE remains relevant in terms of its delivery of training, and that is why we actually are taking TAFE to the people—very clearly, and that was a huge emphasis last week—we are taking TAFE to where people need the training.

Mr Griffiths interjecting:

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Sorry?

Mr Griffiths: Starting the consultation now.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Yes—and we're taking TAFE to the people to make sure that people actually get the training when it is required, where it is required rather than them coming to us and that is the emphasis. Also the advantage of having new technology is that we will be able to deliver more TAFE in a timely way to people.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Before I call the leader, the member for Schubert is called to order and so is the member for Kavel. The member for Schubert is warned a first time, the member for Goyder is warned a first time, and the member for Schubert is warned a second and final time, and so is the member for Chaffey. Leader.