But Jacinta Allan, member for Bendigo East, should be defeated in her seat.

As the minister responsible for the TAFE reforms she should lose her seat for accepting such bad advice.

The government is undertaking a review, and more than 400 submissions opposing the reforms have been provided. It is clear that TAFE is a mess, and employers, students and teachers are up in arms about the situation.

Thousands of battlers find that the reforms in TAFE put them at a disadvantage when it comes to opportunities for reskilling.

For example, nurses, teachers and other graduates who must retrain because of injury or a need to find a new career now have to pay full fees up to $12,000.

Many in redundant industries need to reskill, and Labor is making this an expensive personal exercise. Business will eventually realise that a shortage of skilled people will result. Those on social security will also find they need to take out loans to obtain a basic diploma.

The fact is that with free trade we need to keep reskilling and adjusting our labour market.

We have a big shortage of tradespeople, again a result of a Labor government decision to close technical schools and the failure to fund technical wings in the new secondary colleges.

The reforms in TAFE are a disaster, the government should be held accountable and the electorate should sack Ms Allan.

Australia cannot afford these experiments - industry needs people with the training and skills to perform tasks efficiently.

When will this government listen to those who know?

GEORGES BERNARD,

former director,

Electrotechnology, Printing,

Information Technology and

Communications Training

Board Victoria,

Smiths Gully