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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 8 Hansard (29 August) . . Page.. 2525 ..
MR STEFANIAK (continuing):
the meantime, Mr Speaker, to ensure that there is the required level of expertise in higher education on the Accreditation and Registration Council, I am proposing that up to two additional members with expertise in higher education be appointed to the council.
It is fortunate that the present chair of the council, Dr John Grant, has considerable expertise in higher education. However, it is now apparent that, with the increased amount of higher education business before the council, the incorporation of members with expertise in higher education should be formalised, and formalised sooner rather than later.
I will discuss this issue with members of this Assembly, and I would hope that this bill will receive the full support of members. I think we agree, Mr Speaker, that there is a substantial loophole in our higher education legislation. I am confident that all members view the matter as one of considerable urgency and importance and agree that we should move quickly to close this loophole, which puts at risk the very good name of education and training in the ACT. We have some excellent major public institutions, such as the ANU and Canberra University, and several other higher education institutions that offer quality degrees. We do not want to see the fly-by-nighters come in. That has the potential to rip off unwitting potential students and downgrade the reputation for excellence that ACT education has at the highest level. It is a matter of considerable urgency and importance that we close this loophole, which put at risk the good name of education in the ACT. Mr Speaker, I commend the bill to members.
Debate (on motion by Mr Corbell ) adjourned.
MR STANHOPE: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Chief Minister. Recent media reports, in particular in the Bulletin of 8 August, have indicated that the government commissioned a report from Macquarie Bank that dramatically lowered the estimate of the cost to government of the very fast train. The Bulletin unfortunately characterised the Macquarie Bank estimates as remarkably optimistic and widely regarded as unachievable.
Can the Chief Minister confirm the reports that the ACT government commissioned such a report and can she say if the new cost estimate has had any impact on the federal government's consideration of final approval for the project? How much did this latest consultancy cost, why did the government feel it was necessary and will the Chief Minister table a copy of the report?
MS CARNELL
: Mr Speaker, we have been quite open that yes, we did, I think, commission the Macquarie Bank report. I have answered those questions on media and in other places before. Why did we do it? Because, Mr Speaker, we believe that the Westpac report that had previously been commissioned was wrong in a number of places
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