Page 4675 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 15 December 1993
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Nevertheless, I recognise that there is a real challenge presented for the successful implementation of ANTA because of the increasing demands being placed upon tertiary education at all levels.
We are all very much aware of the fact that the universities no longer can take all those people wishing to attend universities. This is putting increasing pressure on TAFEs and institutes of technology. I remain rather concerned about what happens to other students as a result of the downward pressure, if I could put it that way. That is not to be critical of institutes of technology or TAFEs. Obviously, because of a flow down from the universities into those tertiary institutions, other people are being denied the opportunity to go into institutes of technology and TAFEs. The ANTA proposals will not do anything to reduce the opportunities at institutes of technology or TAFEs, and therefore they deserve to be commended. Thus, despite my own scepticism about Labor's capacity to deliver in this, the Liberal Party will not be opposing this facilitating Bill, and we look forward to more detailed legislation which I understand is to be introduced later in 1994.
There are, however, two matters of concern that I would like to address briefly. The first is really beyond our power to correct because it is a Federal issue. Nevertheless, I would like to place on record the Liberals' concern, and we join our Federal colleagues in this, that the Federal Minister for Education, Mr Beazley, wishes to have the sole prerogative of withholding funds from a State or Territory for breach of agreement, rather than leave this prerogative with a ministerial council as was originally proposed. The Minister, Mr Wood, might like to respond to me when he closes the debate on this matter, as I understand that this particular aspect was raised at the Hobart meeting. I would be interested, Mr Wood, to know what your position was in representing the ACT. Did you support the Federal Minister in arrogating this responsibility to himself, and, if so, why? It seems to me that Mr Beazley's action in seeking to take over this role is not in the spirit of cooperation, nor, I suggest, goodwill between States, Territories and the Commonwealth. Therefore I do not believe that it is necessarily a step in the right direction.
The second matter is of a local nature, Madam Speaker, and it concerns the composition of the interim ACT vocational education and training agency to be set up under clause 6 of this Bill, pending legislation on a more permanent agency being established later in the year, as I said earlier. I understand that there are some 14 people to be appointed to this interim agency but that, despite representations, the ACT Council of Parents and Citizens Associations Inc. has not yet secured a position. I do not wish to be critical of the Minister or condemnatory of him at this point, because I understand that discussions are still continuing in relation to this matter and thus no final decision has been made to deny the ACT Council of P and C Associations a place on this interim board.
I would like to place on record that the Liberal Party is quite prepared to support the P and Cs' representation on this interim board. They have written to me making representations. The case they have made out is sensible. Frankly, increasing an already large agency from 14 to 15, or, if you wish, the non-government sector as well, from perhaps 14 to 16, I do not see as unreasonable, and I do not believe that that relatively minor increase would necessarily be cumbersome. With those two comments in relation to the legislation, Madam Speaker, I conclude by saying that the Liberal Party supports it.
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