For years, the former Maryborough TAFE, located at 65 Nagel St, Oakhurst, has stood empty. The local community has not been told the truth about its future. On January 23, 2015, the local Labor MP promised to keep the TAFE open, yet the TAFE was subsequently closed. More recently, on April 21, 2021, the same local Labor MP advocated for the sale of the site, further showing Labor’s determination to sell local assets, including training facilities.

The local Labor MP's changing stance on the issue reflects a pattern of broken promises and a failure to prioritise the long-term educational and vocational development of the Maryborough area. The sale of the TAFE site would represent another lost opportunity to enhance local educational infrastructure and community resources. 

Any announcement by Labor concerning the site, including fanciful plans to base the Rural Fire Service on the site cannot be trusted. 

We, the undersigned, therefore urge the House to oppose Labor’s planned sale of the former Maryborough TAFE site and instead support the development of an emergency services training facility combined with a vocational training facility, as proposed by Taryn Gillard and the One Nation party.

One Nation’s plan envisions a dual-purpose facility that not only provides vital training for emergency services personnel but also offers vocational training opportunities for local residents, thereby addressing both community safety and educational needs. One Nation’s plan is to clean it up, restore vocational training for relevant local industries and tradies, and create more career training opportunities for Maryborough’s young people by developing an emergency services operations centre and training hub. This would be for the Rural Fire Service, ambulances, State Emergency Services and other emergency services.

We must also make sure there are sufficient services for the site, particularly public transportation.

By supporting this initiative, the Queensland Parliament would demonstrate a genuine commitment to the future prosperity and safety of the Maryborough region, providing a valuable resource for generations to come.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to:

1. Oppose the sale of the former Maryborough TAFE site by the state Labor Government.
2. Support the proposal by Taryn Gillard and One Nation for an emergency services training facility combined with a vocational training facility at 65 Nagel St, Oakhurst, including adequate public transport.

READ OUR PRESS RELEASE HERE: https://qld.onenation.org.au/opportunities-lost-what-to-do-with-maryborough-tafe