Page 352 - Week 03 - Thursday, 1 June 1989
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for the combined University for 1990 and 1991 to be reviewed.
There is a certain ominous flavour to that comment. It recommends:
In these circumstances the Commonwealth should reconsider the future development of the three existing institutions, taking into account the proposed external review of the Institute of Advanced Studies at ANU.
It is quite important that the proposed committee examine that document and try to establish just what is meant by that wording. It would clearly be premature for the Assembly to take a stand on the question today, and I am pleased that we will now have an opportunity for the committee to review all the issues. Higher education is vital for the economic, social and cultural progress of the Territory, and our Government is determined that the question of future arrangements will receive the serious consideration that it merits.
MS MAHER (11.51): I have been greatly concerned about the proposed amalgamation of the Australian National University and the Canberra College of Advanced Education, for a number of reasons. I am pleased that Mr Humphries has proposed the setting up of a committee to investigate this matter, and I support the comments of those members who have already spoken. It must be remembered that, by name, the ANU is a national institution while the CCAE is a Canberra institution.
In the amalgamation of the CCAE and the ANU, the CCAE would disappear. I do not think this would be a good thing for the Canberra people. Whatever happens regarding these institutions, the current position of the CCAE is untenable. It is the last college of advanced education in the Australian education system.
To my understanding all the other CAEs have become universities in their own right or have amalgamated with pre-existing universities. This is leading to great difficulties in recruitment of qualified staff and indeed attraction of local, overseas and interstate students to the CCAE. It places a great question mark on the value of a CCAE degree.
Therefore, I hope that this proposed committee will look not only into the amalgamation of the two bodies but also into the future of the CCAE, no matter what the committee's findings are.
MR HUMPHRIES (11.53): I will reply, Mr Speaker, very briefly. The comments that Mr Berry made in respect of industrial democracy were interesting. Of course, if industrial democracy had been a feature of the management of the Australian National University until now, the amalgamation would certainly not have proceeded.
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