Page 3520 - Week 08 - Thursday, 18 August 2011
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Professor Bradley did recommend, though, that if a marriage between the University of Canberra and the CIT were not to go ahead, the CIT must be given more independence in order to operate in this new environment. It will effectively boil down to a decision between a collaborative team Canberra approach or a competitive approach between the two institutions. My preference is to see collaboration and for these institutions to work together.
MR SPEAKER: Dr Bourke, a supplementary?
DR BOURKE: As I seem to be more interested in education than Mr Doszpot, can the minister please advise—
Mr Seselja: On a point of order, I believe Mrs Dunne had her question ruled out of order by making asides before asking her question. I would ask you to call Dr Bourke to order.
Mr Hargreaves: On the point of order, Mr Speaker, the question of Mrs Dunne’s was not actually ruled out of order.
MR SPEAKER: Whether Mrs Dunne was ruled out of order or not is academic at this point. Dr Bourke, please just ask your question without the asides.
DR BOURKE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can the minister advise of any specific threats to the future of the tertiary sector in the ACT?
MR BARR: I think the gravest threat is inaction and if this important reform that is necessary for these institutions to thrive in the future is in fact stymied by either a political campaign against a new institution or, indeed, campaigns that are run against greater autonomy for the CIT. We need to be very clear. This issue has been on the agenda for some time. There are appropriate processes that the government is engaging in, including extensive community consultation. That has been through a number of phases. Ultimately a decision will have to be taken. We talk a lot in this place about diversifying the ACT economy. This is the most practical example where we can make a decision that will set this economy up for the long term.
Education and training is the third biggest industry for the ACT, outside government administration and defence. This is it. This is our silver bullet. This is the change that we need. This is the most significant issue that we will face in higher education and the greatest threat is to put our heads in the sand and think that this is all too hard or to think that cheap political shots will suffice when serious analysis of a dynamic environment is required. If it is simply going to be cheap shots from those opposite, then they will condemn themselves as a policy-free zone.
MS HUNTER: A supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Hunter.
MS HUNTER: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Is another challenge to the tertiary education sector the fall in international students and, if so, minister, will you be joining Premier Anna Bligh’s call to the federal government to look at the issue around student visas?
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video