The Queensland Government has tabled legislation before Parliament that will see TAFE Queensland established as a new independent statutory body.

State Minister for Education and Training, John-Paul Langbroek, said the State Government would seek to establish the new body at the start of July, and will be responsible for managing all TAFE institutes in the state.

“Through the Queensland Skills and Training Taskforce we undertook extensive consultation with industry and they told us that we should keep TAFE at arm’s length from the government to enable it to thrive in an increasingly competitive training market,” Mr Langbroek said.

“We have accepted the Taskforce’s recommendation and we are now in the process of setting up TAFE Queensland, which will be stronger and more responsive to the skills and training needs of students and industry.”

Mr Langbroek said the Government would now move to recruit up to nine board members for the TAFE Queensland Board.

“This board will determine the new organisational structure of TAFE Queensland so it is important that we have the right mix of commercial skills and experience, balanced with an understanding of Queensland’s rapidly changing training market,” Mr Langbroek said.

“I will appoint the interim CEO, however all future CEO appointments will be made by the board to reflect the independent nature of the new TAFE Queensland.