A last-minute cash splash in Colac has politicians from both sides of the political divide attempting to woo voters as the federal election enters its final week.
The Liberal Party has committed up to $25 million for a trade college, while Labor has pledged a further $3.78 million.
Member for Corangamite Darren Cheeseman announced late yesterday a re-elected Gillard Government would upgrade Colac’s Bluewater Fitness Centre.
The Labor announcement follows Opposition leader Tony Abbott’s trip to Colac on Friday, during which he announced plans to build a stand-alone technical college.
About 50 members of the national media accompanied Mr Abbott and wife Margie as they visited Colac’s Gordon TAFE campus.
Environmental protestors crashed Mr Abbott’s national announcement, yelling “don’t ignore the elephant in the room, don’t ignore climate change, Tony” and “young people want action on climate change”.
The Opposition leader met with Colac and district automotive students before announcing a $690-million package to build 30 Australian Technical Colleges across the nation.
The first round of 12 technical colleges would include a Colac site, provided it passed a government assessment and evaluation.
A Federal Liberal Government would consult with the community to find a site for the college.
“An ATC in Colac will be an extraordinary asset for this region,” Liberal candidate for Corangamite Sarah Henderson said.
“This commitment will deliver first-class vocational training to Colac and the region,” she said.
Mr Abbott’s 90-minute Colac visit leaves Corangamite voters with a clear policy difference between the two major parties ahead of Saturday’s federal election.
The parties have both committed to spend $257.5 million to duplicate the Princes Highway to Colac, after the Liberals’ agreed to match Labor’s commitment last week.
Federal Government sources have told The Colac Herald the district should expect to receive a trades training centre.
The government is due to announce in September the outcome of Colac’s application, with sources saying the caretaker mode prevented an announcement during the campaign.
Ultimately, it appears Colac would receive a stand alone technical college under the Liberals, or a trade training centre under Labor that schools from across the region would have access to.
Mr Cheeseman ridiculed the Liberals’ technical college announcement, after his party terminated the Howard Government scheme after the last election.
“They have not committed to an actual amount of money, it is subject to a review, there is no identified site and there has been no consultation,” he said.
“This private college would compete against Colac Secondary College and Trinity College.
“Technical colleges under the Howard Government failed Colac then and will fail Colac if elected again.”
State Member for Polwarth Terry Mulder said the Liberal policy was a “return to the golden era of trade training” and the “best possible outcome” for Colac.
Colac Otway Shire chief Rob Small said trade training was “one of the most important issues facing Colac and district”.

SKILL TESTS: Colac’s Trinity College Year 12 VCAL student Joanna Horne watches Liberal leader Tony Abbott tests his skills while Corangamite candidate Sarah Henderson shares a laugh with on-lookers.

 

Article courtesy of The Colac Herald