TAFE SA

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:04): My question is to the Minister for Education, Training and Skills. Has the minister been advised or briefed about any quality issues with courses at TAFE SA this year and, if so, will he advise the house of those details?

The Hon. B.I. BOYER (Wright—Minister for Education, Training and Skills) (15:04): I appreciate the question from the member for Morialta. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any. I am happy to go away and ask that question and come back to the house. I know there are some courses in particular that we have paid a great deal of attention to since coming to government, most notably those courses that were cut from metropolitan TAFE campuses in Adelaide, including early childhood education and care, individual support (disability), individual support (ageing).

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister, there is a point of order, which I will hear under 134.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Standing order 98: this question was short and direct to the issue of quality issues raised, and the minister is going far broader than that.

The SPEAKER: I have the point of order. I will listen carefully. The minister is early in his answer. Some context is permitted, but I bring the minister to the question.

The Hon. B.I. BOYER: I did commit to taking that question on notice and coming back to the house, but I thought it may be prudent not just to talk about any potential courses where I may have heard about quality issues but also to talk about all the TAFE courses where I haven't heard anything about quality issues. Of course, that includes the three that we have brought back to metropolitan campuses that were cut by the former government.

They didn't allow TAFE to offer those courses at metropolitan campuses. Of course, it wasn't an issue of interest or enrolments: it was simply an attempt by those opposite to cut TAFE off at the knees and make them uncompetitive, which was the hallmark of their four years.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister, there is a point of order. I anticipate that the member for Morialta presses 98.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Certainly.

The SPEAKER: It may be that the minister, having taken the question in, has also concluded any additional extemporaneous remarks.

The Hon. B.I. BOYER: I will now of course because—

The SPEAKER: Very well, if the minister will wish to continue then I must emphasise the terms of standing order 98.

The Hon. B.I. BOYER: I just thought that perhaps I could add a few more words in the spirit of bipartisanship, which I know drives all of us in this place, and suggest that perhaps if the member for Morialta is very keen to get a speedy answer to his very valid question he may furnish the house or me with a few more details around the basis of that question.