RELATED: Merger aims to grow education sector
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STATE members for Bendigo Maree Edwards and Jacinta Allan have criticised the merger between Bendigo TAFE and Kangan Institute.
They say the money should have been invested sooner to prevent job losses and course cuts at Bendigo TAFE.
Ms Edwards said the $64 million question was why Premier Denis Napthine was backing the "takeover" when he had previously said he did not support regional TAFE mergers.
"If Denis Napthine has this much money in his coffers why wasn't the money invested in Bendigo TAFE and Kangan TAFE sooner to prevent the job losses, the course cuts and the fee hits that have occurred at both campuses?" Ms Edwards said.
"Why wasn't the money invested sooner to prevent the closure of the child care centre and the sacking of library staff?" she said.
Ms Edwards said the merger decision had been made "on the run".
"We don't know what the money is actually for," she said.
"We are still waiting for a business case. This announcement raises more questions than it answers."