Fund fight has 'kneecapped' system A "CIVIL war" over funding is kneecapping tertiary education strategy, according to independent MP Rob Oakeshott, who says the government must consider bypassing the states and fund TAFEs directly. The civil war involves Canberra withholding funds from TAFEs in response to state governments slashing spending and using federal money as "backfiller," but it leaves TAFEs "jammed at both ends," unable to sell uncompetitive facilities or get funds to modernise them.