Legislative Council Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1) 53 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time TAFE SA TAFE SA The Hon. T.A. FRANKS Legislative Council TAFE SA The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:59): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills on the topic of the TAFE Foundation Skills program. Leave granted. The Hon. T.A. FRANKS Legislative Council The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: I draw to the minister's attention an email that was sent on 30 April this year with the subject title, 'AEU rep visiting sites'. This email was sent to TAFE employees by the Foundation Skills education manager. It reads in part: The AEU rep may be visiting your campus in the near future. This is a friendly reminder to not answer any questions related to the Foundation Skills programs. My questions are: 1.	Was the minister aware that TAFE employees had been instructed not to speak to their AEU representatives about cuts to the Foundation Skills program at the Noarlunga TAFE campus? 2.	What actions will the Weatherill government take to ensure that TAFE employees are able to speak to their industrial union about any and all issues in their workplace? The Hon. G.E. GAGO Legislative Council Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (15:01): I thank the honourable member for her question. I was made aware of this just recently; I just can't recall who informed me. It may in fact have been the AEU, because I have recently had meetings with them. It wasn't in as much detail as the honourable member has gone through today, but it was mentioned that there was some direction of staff not to speak with the AEU rep. I was gobsmacked, I have to say, because union reps have the right to have access to their members in workplaces, and I found this to be a remarkable thing. As I said, these are operational matters. Yes, it was the AEU; it has just been confirmed that it was the AEU that raised that issue. My understanding is that they would pursue it using the courses available to them. As I said, TAFE is an independent statutory corporation. It makes operational decisions. I was appalled to hear that this had taken place, and I am sure that the matter will be rectified.