Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie has called for more honesty from TasTAFE as she attempts to secure $50-100 million in federal funds for the vocational education provider.
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Senator Lambie said on a radio interview on Tuesday she would love to see TasTAFE restored to 'what it was like 10 years ago' and has set her sights on a federal fund.
The funds are allocated for education but Prime Minister Scott Morrison has taken steps to divert the funds from education to emergency relief but senator Lambie is hoping a slice of that could be carved up to allocate to TasTAFE.
She said TasTAFE held a special place in her family's hearts, as her mother, herself and her son were all educated there at different times.
"We are really hands-on [people] - we were never going to university," she said.
However, she said TasTAFE needed to be more honest with her if she were to secure the funds for the organisation.
"I would like more honesty from TAFE, I think they are holding back," she said.
"They are giving me the most sparse detail they can and that's not helping me."
Senator Lambie said she had experienced the ageing facilities for herself and new of a campus that was using machinery from the 1960s.
She said the Tasmanian Government was collaborating with her on the bid for funds.
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TasTAFE has been plagued with staff recruitment issues and have had trouble securing trades teachers.
In addition, 10 long term staff members have departed the training provider in the past two years. However, TasTAFE chief executive Jenny Dodd said this was natural attrition.
It was revealed on Tuesday that TasTAFE planned to close the Launceston city campus and consolidate its efforts at Alanvale, with a $4 million upgrade planned.
However, the campus is expected to close at the end of 2019, with the move to take place and courses to begin in 2020.
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Ms Dodd said all programs offered at the Launceston CBD campus apart from nursing will be relocated to Alanvale in the first part of 2020.
"Nursing students will transition to Alanvale later in 2020 and once the new prac rooms for nursing at Alanvale have been completed."
The Drysdale campus in Paterson St in the CBD will remain in Paterson St.
It is unclear what will happen to the vacant CBD campus but it's expected it will be sold.