Page 4772 - Week 11 - Thursday, 20 October 2011
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Of course, we know that that would not be technically correct; however, I do accept that this is a reasonable point of view and I think that, particularly given the significance of the issue, we should be involving the Assembly committee and the community at the earliest possible stage.
The revised amendment does address this issue and provides for all the relevant material to be provided to the education and training committee to ensure that it can comprehensively cover the issue and make a judgement about the best course of action with the benefit of all that information.
The Greens have come to the view that the most appropriate point in time for that to occur is once the government has had the opportunity to respond to the Bradley review and we have the benefit of all the work that the public service is currently undertaking, so that we can better understand the impacts and consequences of the proposed reforms. The government has convened a task force to assist in the development of its response to the issue. This is an appropriate course of action and I very much look forward to having the opportunity to evaluate the material that it produces. I would say that I have received some feedback about the level of stakeholder involvement in the process, and I emphasise the Greens’ view that, given the nature of the change, if it were to take place, the merger will require significant community participation; the more extensive that can be the better as far as involving people in discussions is concerned.
Whether or not we pursue the merger option, it is clear that extensive thought will have to be given to how best we provide tertiary and further education for Canberra’s students, to ensure the best educational outcomes and also the viability of the sector, which is a very important part of our economy—a very important part of our clean economy. There is a spectrum of options in the Bradley review; in the event that the merger option is not supported, it would be appropriate for the committee to consider the other options.
I have already outlined the benefits of having a committee inquiry into this issue, and I do not think anyone doubts the merits of that. The question is about the timing of that inquiry. I hope that we can all agree that, whilst there are arguments for the different options, ultimately the best course of action is to let the government finish its existing process and then allow the committee to consider the issue.
Let me finish by saying very clearly that the Greens do not have a fixed view on this issue. We very much look forward to analysing all the evidence before deciding on the most appropriate course of action. We are open to each of the proposals and cognisant of the significant changes that will take place in the tertiary sector as a result of the commonwealth reforms. No-one knows exactly how these changes will play out. Given the importance of our education sector, it is vital that we respond to these changes as well as we possibly can to ensure that we continue to deliver the best educational outcomes—outcomes that the ACT is so renowned for.
I reiterate that the quality of the educational outcomes and the capacity to deliver the best education to all Canberra’s students must be our primary consideration in assessing the merits or otherwise of any reforms. And that is not just our domestic students; it is students from interstate and international students as well.
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