The government has defended accusations that it has backtracked on commitments given on an audit of TasTAFE, denying it was purposely keeping the details secret.
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The independent audit was ordered after it was revealed by the state’s Integrity Commission that there had been nepotistic appointments and alleged credit card misuse by its former chief executive.
The government this week received the first-quarter of the audit’s results which included 25 recommendations on recruitment, procurement, and expenditure.
Labor's skills and training spokesman Josh Willie on Sunday seized on a leaked memo from TasTAFE interim chief executive Mark Sayer and Australian Education Union TAFE president Damian Von Samorzewski to all TAFE staff.
In it, the two men confirmed that quarterly reports on audit’s progress would be made publicly available – but did not specify whether the details would be released.
“TasTAFE staff and students and all Tasmanians want and deserve to know what is going on after months of uncertainty and scandal at the highest levels and (Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff) doesn’t want them to know,” Mr Willie said.
“You can only assume there is something very serious to hide because there is no good reason – legal or otherwise – to keep this first interim report hidden away.”
In response, Mr Rockliff said:
“The government is doing exactly what we said we would – providing a quarterly update.”
The government is doing exactly what we said we would – providing a quarterly update.
- Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff
Government minister Michael Ferguson said the report would be made public when it was finished.
"The audit is now only one-quarter complete, and when it is complete, it will be released," he said.
"Releasing an audit that is only one-quarter complete is a mad idea and could compromise the overall audit."
The audit, which started on July 1, is expected to take 12 months to complete at a cost of about $450,000.
