Libs pledge more cash for Peel education | ELECTION 2017

On Monday morning training minister Liza Harvey announced she would build an $18.4 million specialist hospitality and tourism training centre at Peel TAFE campus if re-elected.

The money would come from the partial sale of Western Power and form part of the Next Generation Education Fund, which Premier Colin Barnett had pledged to create after the election.

“This will ensure Western Australian TAFE students are being trained using the best equipment and resources in the skill areas where we know there is demand for graduates,” Ms Harvey said.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.

“The partial sale of Western Power will allow us to bring older TAFEs up to 21st Century standards and stimulate the economy.”

On Sunday Mr Barnett and education minister Peter Collier announced $20 million to upgrade John Tonkin College and Pinjarra Senior High School.

Dawesville Liberal candidate Zak Kirkup welcomed the announcement for a TAFE upgrade and said it would mean the region would keep young people who would be otherwise forced to study in Perth.

“The upgrade of the Peel campus means that not only we’re going to get more jobs in construction but it means we capitalise on our unique attributes locally,” he said.

“We’ve been talking about the importance of making sure kids don’t have to leave town to get training.

“It means we can keep those kids in town in an industry that is already a strong part of the Peel economy.”

Dawesville Labor candidate Adam Woodage said he opposed the part-sale of Western Power “full stop”.

“I oppose the sale of Western Power, we shouldn’t be selling assets to promise projects that might not be delivered,” he said.

“We have 870 employed in Dawesville in the tourism industry at the moment, they’ve got their skills and knowledge from elsewhere so I would support such a facility, but not on the proviso they sell an asset.

“We shouldn’t be selling the family silverware full stop; Western Power has generated over $500 million for the state this year, the year before was $350 million.”