TAFE Lease
The news that the lease of an empty TAFE building was only sent to the University of the Sunshine Coast on Friday demonstrates the Government’s cynical treatment of the students and residents of Gympie.
Member for Gympie, Tony Perrett, said that late on Friday the Minister for Training and Skills Development, Shannon Fentiman, advised the Parliament that a lease had only been sent to the University that day.*
“When I raised this issue in Parliament at the end of February the Minister had until Friday to give a clear and unequivocal answer to the Parliament as to whether the lease had been signed,” Mr Perrett said.
“The writing was clearly on the wall and it was time to stop stonewalling and give us an answer.
In a manufactured photo opportunity three weeks ago it was declared it a great win while the Government clearly knew that a lease hadn’t even been sent to the USC.
“Everything that has happened so far has been because the Government has had to be dragged kicking and screaming to this point.
“We are now into the fifth year, or half a decade, of pushing for this lease.
“I have been fighting for this ever since I was elected in 2015.
“It’s not complicated – the lease was already ready for signing when there was a change of Government more than four years ago
“You can’t blame the University which has jumped through hoops, provided everything that has been asked for, and resubmitted applications to try to get a document on the table.
“Since then I have had to push and question, sift through the creative excuses and spin, and put our needs in front of two Ministers who have dragged the chain.
“It has been a four and a half year sham by this government.
“Even under this new Minister it has been more than 12 months since she promised a lease.
“The Minister had to be flushed out because the last thing she wanted was to come back to the Parliament and say nothing has been done.
“The residents of Gympie were led to believe that the deal was done and the lease issue was over.
“It has dragged on and on and still the saga continues.
“We would never have come to this point without continuous pressure on this Minister, and the previous one, to do something for the residents and students of Gympie.
“It is appalling that the Government has wilfully and callously sat on its hands about this matter for so long.
“It never made sense and it is frustrating that we still don’t have a signed lease.
“This is an empty building that no one wants, not even TAFE, while a willing tenant has been trying to gain access.
“The amount of time wasted and the lost opportunities has treated the residents of Gympie, the students, their parents, families, and workers who want to upskill with the greatest show of contempt,” he said.
*QUESTION ON NOTICE
MR A PERRETT ASKED THE MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS AND MINISTER FOR TRAINING AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT (HON S FENTIMAN) — QUESTION:
With reference to previous government advice that discussions about a lease of an empty and unused Gympie TAFE building to the University of the Sunshine Coast have been ongoing for over 12 months – Will the Minister advise if the lease has been signed?
ANSWER:
We have been working closely with the Gympie Regional Council and the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) to reach an agreement that is in the best interests of the community for the lease of B block at the Gympie TAFE campus.
On 12 March 2019 I was pleased to visit the Gympie TAFE campus and join with USC ViceChancellor and President Professor Greg Hill and the Mayor Mick Curran, to announce an agreement had been reached with USC for a 10-year lease.
I am pleased to advise the required lease was finalised by the State government and issued to USC on 29 March 2019 for execution.
In addition to partnering with USC on expanding the campus utilisation, the Palaszczuk Government is investing $530,000 to upgrade Gympie TAFE this year including $230,000 to refurbish B block for university use.