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Mr ROBERT OAKESHOTT (Port Macquarie) [5.21 p.m.]: Port Macquarie Community College and Taree Community College in the Port Macquarie electorate provide a significant range of education services and courses to many people in the local area. Both community colleges have written to me expressing concern about cuts in the 2004-05 State budget for the adult and community education sector. Funding has been cut from $22,261,000 last year to $18,436,000 this year, which represents an overall cut of 16 per cent and a decrease in funding relative to both the Department of Education and Training and TAFE. These community colleges are concerned that they have had to put a squeeze on the delivery of courses. I am sure honourable members do not want to see that happen when it means that people cannot access a certain level of education on the mid North Coast.
The mid North Coast is recognised as being a region that is high on the list of impoverished areas in the State, and as having the largest number of people from low socioeconomic backgrounds, per head of capita, entering any kind of tertiary education. For many in our community the local community college is their only access to quality adult education and training. For example, TAFE is not an option for many regional learners, and our community colleges offer an educational alternative for those seeking both accredited and non-accredited education opportunities in a personal learning environment and a professional environment that meets the needs of individuals.
Both community colleges have written to me expressing concern about these reductions in State Government funding, which have caused community organisations a great deal of unease. As community-based non-profit organisations, Taree Community College and Port Macquarie Community College have been servicing the local area for the past 25 years. In that time they have provided significant training and education opportunities, and through the many projects with which they are involved they have created a valuable learning environment in the Taree, Manning Valley, Port Macquarie and Hastings areas. Although they have achieved great things in the community, their overheads continue to increase, as always.
Like other small businesses on the mid North Coast and in New South Wales, they are directly affected by rising wage costs, legislative compliance issues and an increase in business compliance costs. They have survived to date despite limited government support, without a consumer price index increase for the past six years and without a substantial increase in funding since 1996. They know they are good managers—many in the local community can vouch for that—and that they provide valuable community services. Likewise, many in the community can vouch for that. While they do not expect to be fully funded by government, in an area such as the mid North Coast and in an area such as adult and community education it is fair to expect the Government to support education in country areas and to recognise the substantial contribution being made by non-profit and volunteer associations to the local economy.
Philosophically, community colleges exist to provide services to disadvantaged groups in our community, which they do. As I said, it is widely recognised and acknowledged that the mid North Coast is one of the poorest and most economically disadvantaged regions in the State. This latest funding debacle is yet another example of the Government's apparent disregard for the human aspect of budget cuts. People in our region are hurting, and it seems that no-one within the government ranks is listening. So the Government is taking money from people who are already worse off to the point of even denying communities such as Port Macquarie the opportunity to help itself. I ask the Minister for Education and Training, the Premier and the Treasurer to consider, in next year's budget negotiations, the impacts they have placed on not only the adult and community education sector but also the education sector in general with the real cuts they have placed on the sector in this year's budget. The Premier always says that he is the education Premier. This Government always lauds its education credentials. Let us see it happen in real dollar terms.