Strike Threat By Tafe Teachers

Illawarra Mercury

Friday June 23, 2000

TAFE teachers have demanded a meeting with the NSW Government over concerns that massive funding cuts under the state budget would result in the loss of 730 teaching jobs.

NSW Teachers Federation spokesman for post-school education Phil Bradley told the NSW Labor Council last night there had been a $133million cut to the TAFE budget, one of the most drastic funding cuts to the TAFE system ever.

Mr Bradley said last year TAFE teachers held two 24-hour strikes over job cuts and similar action was possible if the funding wasn't restored.

And last night the Labor Council supported calls for an urgent meeting with Education Minister John Aquilina and Premier Bob Carr to discuss the matter.

Mr Bradley said joint action could involve state school teachers, despite recent industrial unrest at government schools over the recently resolved pay dispute.

People smugglers await trial

Northern Territory jails were holding 125 foreigners on charges relating to ``people smuggling" offences, but a legal aid service expects the figure to fall.

The NT Government revealed in Parliament that 98 of the foreigners were awaiting trial in Darwin's Berrimah jail on charges relating to the transport of illegal immigrants.

Legal Aid director Richard Coates said five years ago his service received only a handful of clients on such charges.