UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA (MISCELLANEOUS) AMENDMENT BILL

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 27 November 2008. Page 1031.)

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (15:25): I rise on behalf of the opposition to indicate support for the bill. This measure is predicated on a decision of the university Chancellor to amend the university's act in a way that streamlines the process of the institution's governing council. The opposition supports the bill as a contribution to the efficiency and effectiveness of the University of South Australia's governance system. Through the bill, the governing council will be reduced from 21 to 16 members; thus, an amendment is needed to its constitution. A number of minor amendments are also made to bring the University of South Australia Act into line with the legislation of other universities.

The Liberal Party has always fostered reform for greater efficiency within our tertiary institutions which, along with accountability, leadership in education and quality decision-making, is the cornerstone of this bill. The university's act was implemented in 1991 after a merger of the SA Institute of Technology and the South Australian College of Education campuses. Its great ancestry goes back to the establishment of the South Australian School of the Arts in 1856. My colleague in another place (David Pisoni) recounted the success of the school in bolstering women in Australian education, and today well over half the university's staff are women.

Since 1876, with the inception of the South Australian teachers training school, UniSA has trained and continues to train many of our young teachers. Mr Pisoni raised the important point that our state government must provide better support for those teaching graduates. We rely on the school for a great deal of our teaching talent in South Australia. We support them in the workforce, and support for the institution which develops them professionally must not be taken for granted. We support the bill with the confidence that it assists the university in its ongoing role of producing quality graduates.

The Hon. M. PARNELL (15:27): The Greens support the bill. We note that the key feature of the legislation is to reduce the size of the university's governing council from 21 members to 16. I note that the minister's second reading explanation identifies that the original proposal was contained in a discussion paper, which was circulated amongst university staff and students, as well as relevant education unions and the student union.

However, the report did not indicate the views of those groups, so the Greens took it upon themselves to consult with the student union at the University of South Australia (now known as UniLife), and it states that it is happy with the reduction in members of the governing council. The proportion of students on that governing council remains roughly the same. In the absence of any objection from the people most concerned, the Greens are happy to let this measure pass.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (15:28): On behalf of my colleague in another place, I thank honourable members for their indication of support and their indulgence in enabling this bill to proceed today.

Bill read a second time and taken through its remaining stages.