Page 39 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 12 February 2019
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This level of participation was important for CIT’s more recent governance journey but, as a government, we feel the time is now right to remove the positions so there is a clearer separation of government policy, development processes and board decision-making. Regardless of these changes, there are already collaborative working relationships between the ACT government and CIT but we will also look to improve how communication occurs and how we can effectively work towards our shared interests.
Just as CIT is focused on providing appropriate supports for students, the ACT government is committed to supporting CIT to build a robust framework for responsive training delivery, one that supports development of the skills and capabilities that our community, industries and economy need.
The bill maintains the maximum number of board members at 11 to ensure sufficient flexibility to provide expertise and knowledge through the potential appointments of industry experts. The ability to augment existing board members’ knowledge and expertise with specialist skill sets will allow the board to appropriately oversee and ensure the comprehensive implementation of CIT’s strategic vision and planning now and into the future. Maintaining this degree of flexibility will support CIT’s ability to operate with a greater commercial and entrepreneurial focus in an increasingly contestable training marketplace.
A key part of any business development is, of course, identifying and prioritising need through constructive and productive stakeholder consultation. For this reason the bill retains the student and staff representative positions to ensure that the board maintains strong links to all members of the learning community. I really cannot say it better than the comments Minister Rattenbury was making before. However, the bill will clarify the intent of the staff and student positions by stipulating that, while the positions are elected by CIT staff and students, they do not act as delegates of the represented body.
Further amendments are even more technical in nature and include updates to referencing, such as replacing the term “institute” with “CIT”. These are minor changes to update some outdated conventions within the Canberra Institute of Technology Act 1987.
The bill strengthens the existing structure of the board to allow it to be fit for purpose, responsive and adaptive moving forward. A competent and enthusiastic board will provide the direction and the leadership that CIT needs to continue its transformation, thereby ensuring the ongoing viability of our public provider for many years to come.
The changes to the CIT board proposed by this bill will enable CIT to remain positioned as the primary public provider of vocational education and training in the ACT, delivering quality training opportunities accessible to all Canberrans. I commend this bill to the Assembly.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Minister for Planning and Land Management, Minister for Police and Emergency
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