EDUCATION and training minister Sue Ellery officially opened stage 4 of the Murdoch Tafe campus this week.

Students in the $46.5 million, three-level building will study business, fitness, hair, beauty and massage.

The development also includes IT training areas and there are plans for a centre of cyber security, the campus forming part of the health and knowledge precinct that includes Fiona Stanley Hospital.

The new campus will eventually include a library, bookshop, cafeteria, offices and conference rooms.

“A key focus of the McGowan Labor government is jobs, maximising training opportunities and increasing our skills base,” Ms Ellery said at the opening.

“The new facilities at Murdoch will help ensure industry has the people it needs with the right skills at the right time, especially in the growing areas of disability and aged care.”

• Education minister Sue Ellery at the Murdoch Tafe opening with students Erin Scott and Jayden Hunter.

But the Murdoch campus spells the end of Tafe in Beaconsfield, with the campus likely to be sold off for housing except for perhaps a restaurant.

Former Fremantle mayoral candidate Ra Stewart made Tafe’s withdrawal one of her campaign platforms, saying the council should have fought harder to keep it.

Ms Stewart was in Kalgoorlie spruiking the Royal Flying Doctor Service to miners this week (she says they reckon there’s no such thing as a mining downturn) but says it’s a missed opportunity.

“The question I would raise is the Challenger Tafe which I know they are closing down, but no one is talking about that,” Ms Stewart said.

“My policy was setting up Fremantle as a creative, knowledge and education hub with Notre Dame leading the charge.

“I think it’d be fair to say now that the horse has bolted.”