TAFE SA

Mr GARDNER (Morialta) (14:37): My question is to the Minister for Higher Education and Skills. Did the minister make inquiries with TAFE SA yesterday after she informed the house that she was not aware of TAFE receiving notice from the national Skills Quality Authority that 16 courses are at risk of being decertified?

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Higher Education and Skills) (14:37): Yes, of course I did; I said I would and I did. In fact, the matter is now public. It's available on Adelaidenow if anyone wants to click on the internet. As I had said to Leon Byner, actually, a week ago or maybe two weeks ago, and I mentioned again yesterday, I am aware that there had been an audit. As I mentioned yesterday, I was aware that ASQA had done some work. I had not been informed that the report had reached the chief executive, but indeed it did reach the chief executive sometime Monday afternoon.

TAFE has been given some time to respond, somewhere around late October, and is working through that at present. I, of course, am deeply concerned about any suggestion that may lose the confidence of the public of South Australia in the training quality—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: —and therefore I will be paying very close attention now that the report has arrived not only to understanding what the report says but also to ensuring that I understand the way in which TAFE will respond. I expect to be in a position to make a public announcement about that in due course, at the appropriate time.

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader and the member for Unley are called to order, and the member for Schubert is warned. The member for Morialta.