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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-02-18 Daily Xml
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Question Time

MINING ENGINEERS

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (14:45): My question is to the Minister for Mineral Resources Development. Will the minister advise the chamber on the role played by the University of Adelaide in ensuring that a skilled workforce, including engineering graduates, is available in South Australia that the mining industry can access?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:45): I thank the honourable member for his well-researched question. I echo the comments of my colleagues: it certainly is a welcome contrast.

Despite the ongoing global financial crisis, this government remains strongly convinced that the mineral and energy resources sector still has a major role to play in South Australia's long-term economic development. In the past, training for geologists and engineers has been hampered by the cyclical nature of the mining industry, as boom is followed by downturn, building towards yet another boom.

What is required is a training base that allows universities and other educational institutions to look through these cycles to provide a stream of trained mining engineers ready to meet demand as it arises, rather than its being caught short by a sudden surge of demand for these specialist skills.

Today, South Australia celebrated another milestone in the development of the state-based stream for the education of mining engineers with the University of Adelaide's inclusion in the Mining Education Australia coalition. The university joins the University of New South Wales, Western Australia's Curtin University and the University of Queensland to develop this important joint venture in education.

Mining Education Australia aims to provide a common curriculum for third and fourth year mining engineering students across four states. This curriculum has the support of industry through the Minerals Tertiary Education Council. I am advised that this is a unique arrangement in the world.

The coalition provides a sustainable platform for mining engineering teaching through the cycles of the resources sector. The University of Adelaide launched its Bachelor of Mining Engineering program in 2007, and it is expected to have more than 200 students when the semester begins this year. This builds on the university's Department of Geology and Geophysics, which had more than 250 first year students in 2008, making it one of the largest geology departments in Australia.

To support the university's involvement in the Mining Education Australia initiative, the state government has granted $100,000. This grant is in addition to the $1.48 million the government has allocated to the Resources and Engineering Skills Alliance (RESA) to develop skills-based training for the mining sector. The University of Adelaide's membership of Mining Education Australia is a major coup for this important institution, for South Australian mining and for the state.

While recognising the high standard of the university's undergraduate program, membership in the joint venture ensures South Australia plays its part in a world-leading initiative in mining education. This government, through Primary Industries and Resources SA, looks forward to working with the university to provide new opportunities for students, the mining industry and the local economy.

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