Page 4677 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 15 December 1993
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The meeting in Hobart certainly was a step forward, a return to a cooperative approach to these things. The national statements and profiles are firmly on the agenda. Indeed, the national curriculum is well under way, and the competencies - another aspect of the Federal agenda - are also back in the orbit of the States again. They are dealing with it; they are progressing on it, albeit in their own way and certainly with their own choice of words. Madam Speaker, I can assure Mr Cornwell that the Commonwealth is backing up what it is doing with a great deal of action and money.
It is the case that the universities take great numbers of students now. I support Minister Beazley's comment that it is not necessarily appropriate for every student to think they need to go to a university. Our own Institute of Technology here is perhaps a more appropriate body, a more important body, for many of our students.
Mr Cornwell made comments about withholding funds. I do not think there is a problem. New South Wales is having something of a debate on this. Let me be clear; the Commonwealth is aiming to have the power to withhold some funds. I am not sure - I have not checked - whether that legislation has gone through in the last few days across the lake, but the story is this: The Commonwealth is saying, "We want the power to withhold Commonwealth funds in circumstances where States are not spending". They want the power to withhold their own funds. I do not believe that that is a power they should not have. I think it is eminently fair and reasonable. They are not trying to withhold State funds, but they believe that they need a measure of control. There has been a deal of letter writing between New South Wales and the Commonwealth. I am not sure whether the New South Wales people have ultimately agreed to this or not, but I think there will be agreement in the end. The Commonwealth view, as I say, is a reasonable one.
Then we got on to a little bit of a different matter about when we establish our own State training authority, which is likely to be an enhanced VTA option. I note what the two speakers have said. I have been visited by the same people and the matter is under active consideration.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion (by Mr Connolly) agreed to:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Assembly adjourned at 5.34 pm
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