Page 3874 - Week 09 - Thursday, 25 August 2011
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consult with some of your state and territory colleagues in other jurisdictions who just last week in COAG signed up to these reforms.
It is a fast-moving agenda nationally. We do not have time to wait for Mr Doszpot to catch up on two years worth of neglect. I have been talking about this for a considerable amount of time. Members have been aware of that. Ms Hunter is aware of that and is engaging constructively in the process. Mr Doszpot, it would appear—
Mr Doszpot: There are still far too many people in the education community who do not agree with your statements.
MR BARR: No; not everyone will agree, Mr Doszpot. I recognise that. This is a difficult and complex reform. But just because not everyone agrees does not mean that you cannot pursue it and have an important discussion.
Mr Doszpot: And we have been pursing it, Mr Barr.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot, please stop interrupting.
MR BARR: I look forward to a more constructive engagement that involves a little bit less of what we normally get from the shadow minister, which is just a series of personal attacks on me. This issue is much more significant than personal attacks on me—much more significant. I will acknowledge that I have perhaps responded too strongly to Mr Doszpot this morning. It is my hope that through this process and over the course of the remainder of this year and through 2012 there might be the prospect of some agreement across all parties in this place, but if that is not possible that will not deter the government from dealing with this important issue. I will work with whoever I need to to ensure that we get the best outcome for tertiary education in the ACT.
MS HUNTER (Ginninderra—Parliamentary Leader, ACT Greens) (11.25): I want to add my thoughts to this debate this morning. We know that, as the minister has outlined, there is a fast-moving agenda at the federal level around tertiary education. We need to be part of what is going on at that level if we are to position the ACT to be successful in what lies ahead.
Just recently we have had Professor Bradley do a review and put on the table some thoughts and recommendations about how we can proceed. What has been laid out from there is a consultation process. That consultation process is underway right now. It closes on 23 September. It is essential that we get all of those stakeholders, anyone who has an interest in this area, to participate in that consultation and be able to put their thoughts about Professor Bradley’s recommendations into that process.
From there, as the minister has just outlined, there will be a steering group and, under that, a project group. The idea is that information will be taken in, it will be looked at and it will form part of some detailed work on what model or models should be the way forward if that is where we are headed. As the minister outlined, that will include people from Chief Minister and Cabinet, the Education and Training Directorate, Treasury and Economic Development.
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