Regional Students

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (14:45): Supplementary: with whom has the minister had these discussions regarding regional students, have these discussions involved Flinders University, and has she read the business case?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:45): I thank the honourable member for his supplementary question. In terms of the discussions I have had, that has been particularly with my cabinet colleagues. Clearly, this is a very important topic for our state, and it is something that has been the basis of numerous discussions in various fora.

Remembering that this was, if not the first—I think the Voice was the first commitment we made while were in opposition in terms of new policies—then it was certainly amongst the first few commitments we made while we were in opposition to encourage and promote the creation of a new institution that would better serve our university cohort and better serve our state, both in terms of offerings in the near future but also in establishing the sorts of skills, qualifications and future workforce we need for the many exciting projects occurring as a result of investment support and initiative by the Malinauskas Labor government.