Fallout from Michael Johnsen’s resignation and Scone TAFE’s sale

NSW Opposition Leader Jodi McKay held a presser at Singleton’s Burdekin Park around 11.15 am today, calling on NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to put pressure on under-siege Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen to resign. Not one hour later, he had.

In the wake of  Mr. Johnsen’s resignation, speculation is mounting on who will fill his seat in the Upper Hunter. Ms. McKay acknowledged the stronghold the Nationals have held in the area and wanted the public to consider Labor representation in this area. 

“We don’t believe the Nationals have done what is right by this community. People need Labor representation in this area.”

 “I think Michael Johnsen has obviously done the right thing. He should have done it yesterday but certainly, now the people of the Upper Hunter can get a representative they deserve, someone who will have them at the heart of what they do,” Ms. McKay said.

“The Parliament now has to set a time for a by-election. We’re hoping that happens sooner rather than later because I think the people of the Upper Hunter have been without an MP for so long,” she said. 

“Michael Johnsen’s behaviour has been appalling, and I join the people of the Upper Hunter in being glad to see the back of him. The Upper Hunter now has the chance to elect a new representative who has their interests at heart,” she said.

Ms. McKay arrived in Singleton ahead of the public Community Forum at Scone RSL Auditorium, at 6 pm tonight where she will hear concerns from members of the public about the sale of Scone TAFE to Racing NSW. 

She spoke of the importance of having a strong TAFE presence in areas like Scone and Singleton.

The TAFE sold for $4 million this week, and the NSW Government has said it intended to invest in additional modern teaching and learning facilities in the region.

Ms McKay rejected the Government’s reasoning. “They should be investing in those TAFE colleges now to ensure they’re meeting the needs of the entire community so I don’t accept. the Government’s reasoning”.

She also stressed the importance of keeping the Scone TAFE campus in public hands.  “The issues in the Upper Hunter are significant. You’ve heard me speak many times of keeping the Scone campus in public hands. Well yesterday, on the eve of our meeting, when the Member for the Upper Hunter was embroiled in a sex scandal, the Government signed the contract for Scone campus, ensuring that it is no longer publicly owned, it is divested, it is privatised and it now belongs to the private sector. The Government should invest in other TAFES in the Hunter. They don’t have to sell and privatise.

“Originally when the public meeting was arranged, we were fighting to save that campus but I think there are a number of options available to us in terms of exposing what a stinky deal this is. This deal smells because we found out at Budget Estimates that there had been a meeting between the Minister and Racing NSW and now we know as of yesterday that that meeting was the prelude to that campus being disposed of.  The day after that, there was a decision made by TAFE NSW that the campus was to be sold.

“Now that deal stinks. It stinks from the day they came up with it, to the day they signed the contract, and they signed the contract ahead of a public meeting. There has been no community consultation on this at all. The only consultation was occurring by Labour, the Teacher’s Federation, and the PSA. That was the meeting we were hoping for today.”

We know many, the majority, in this community did not want the campus sold. The Government could have come to an arrangement with Racing NSW, it could have strengthened that campus. The important thing is that the campus would have stayed in public hands and would not have been privatised but today that is the case. It occurs on the eve of a public meeting we are having and it occurs when Michael Johnsen is embroiled in a sex scandal.

“The timing of that is not coincidental accidental. The timing has ben made based on the situation the Government now finds itself in. We’ll continue with our public meeting tonight. We’ll continue to fight for TAFE in this area.

Ms. McKay said she wanted to see TAFE strengthened for the people of Scone and Singleton so they have the opportunity to learn the skills they want.

“Our commitment is to strengthen TAFE’s presence in the Upper Hunter and I’m looking forward to hearing what the community says tonight at 6 pm.”

Community forum details:

The NSW Teacher’s Federation and the Public Service Association will be holding a community forum to discuss the Flemington Drive Scone TAFE campus.

• When: 6pm, Wednesday, March 31, 2021.
• Where: Scone RSL Club, 71 Guernsey Street, Scone.