Page 2926 - Week 09 - Thursday, 18 August 2005
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levels the best possible education that could be provided to residents in any place in Australia. We do that through maintaining full support for the government sector, support for diversity in education, and continuing support for and nurturing of the non-government system. We have a commitment to the Canberra Institute of Technology and we have maintained and strengthened our relationship with the university sector, which has led to an increase in the status and standing of the Australian National University as one of Australia’s leading teaching and research universities.
Our acknowledgment of and support for that research capacity is well understood. In an earlier presentation the Minister for Planning referred to the major memorandum of understanding that we entered into with the ANU relating to the development of City West and all that will flow from that, for example, enhanced technological opportunities. We provided seed funding for a major commercialisation fund, which is now worth $30 million. We provided the building blocks for the establishment, within the ACT, of the ICT centre of excellence. These are just some of the initiatives we have pursued to ensure we maintained both the social and commercial appeal of the territory for residents, investors and outsiders.
Of course, it does not stop there. We continue to invest in education. We entered into a partnership with the Australian National University to establish the first university college, a college that will take our most gifted students and provide them with the opportunity to reach their potential in relation to educational opportunities. Similarly, we have invested $43 million in public education in west Belconnen.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella—Leader of the Opposition) (4.40): I think the Chief Minister missed the point that Mr Seselja was trying to make. The people who come to Canberra stay here because they love it, which is why they are here. The question is: what are we doing to try to prevent the brain drain? What are we doing to retain young people who leave and go elsewhere, young people whom we always assumed would remain? As Mr Seselja quite rightly pointed out in his matter of public importance, that is not necessarily so. That was the point of the matter of public importance.
I think we all agree that we are proud of our education system, our infrastructure and the fact that Canberra is the nation’s capital. The question is: what is the outlook for Canberra’s social and commercial appeal to investors and residents? I think the Chief Minister missed the point.
MR SPEAKER: Order! The time allotted for this discussion has expired.
Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill 2005
Detail stage
Debate resumed from 16 August 2005.
Clause 17.
DR FOSKEY (Molonglo) (4.42): I move amendment No 4 circulated in my name [see schedule 4 at page 2944 ].
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