Labor members defend merger

A MULTI-MILLION dollar Commonwealth-funded project to merge CQ University and TAFE has turned into a political word war.

Labor Party members yesterday hit out at comments made by Liberal National Party skills and training spokesman and Member for Mirani Ted Malone saying the LNP wanted to have a good look at the project before making a firm decision.

Labor's Mackay MP Tim Mulherin and candidate for Rockhampton Bill Byrne say the LNP will deny the region $74 million in funding and put thousands of jobs in jeopardy."Mr Malone has let the cat out of the bag.

"The LNP will scrap this merger and rob the region's kids of $74 million in education funding," Mr Mulherin said.

"All the hard work has been done.

"The merger has the full support of the state Labor government.

"Now the LNP are saying they'll have a review, they'll have an investigation.

"That's code for 'we'll scrap it'."

"I have always seen the obvious merit of this proposal and have been seeking a single portal for high school leavers to advance their vocational, trade or tertiary studies," Mr Byrne said.