MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education, Minister for Agriculture) (12:11): It was my absolute joy to visit Sale to formally open the TAFE Gippsland Port of Sale campus last week. This state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility is the result of outstanding collaboration between the community and the staff at TAFE Gippsland and of course the $25 million from the Andrews Labor government. It is this government who realised the importance of and the need for a purpose-built facility to take pride of place at the heart of the Port of Sale precinct. Unlike those opposite, who let facilities go to rack and ruin and locked the gates, it took the strength of the community and the Wellington shire, along with local industry leaders and along with my friend Harriet Shing, a member for Eastern Victoria, and the commitment of this government to unlock those gates to ensure this vital community has the very best facilities and opportunities that they deserve.
I was so pleased to meet students who were just so happy to be learning the skills for their future careers at such a wonderful campus with great teachers. The courses on offer are meeting the local business and community needs in disciplines including aged care, allied health, automotive engineering, carpentry, construction, hair and beauty, and of course early childhood education. Opening this campus was a milestone moment for the whole community.
I would especially like to thank the staff for all of their work, and special thanks go to Grant Radford, the former TAFE Gippsland CEO, who drove this project to completion. It is this government who has committed to offering all Victorians access to a world-class training system with world-class facilities, no matter where you live.
