Northern Territory Second Reading Speeches

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CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY BILL 2003



Suspension of Standing Orders
Pass Bills Through All Stages

Mr STIRLING (Employment, Education and Training): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I move that so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Charles Darwin University Bill 2003 (Serial 169) and Menzies School of Health Research Amendment Bill 2003 (Serial 170) passing through all stages of this sitting.

Motion agreed to.
________________

Mr STIRLING (Employment, Education and Training): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I move the bills be now read a second time.

When this government came to office, the Chief Minister made it clear that reconstructing and re-invigorating the Northern Territory University was one of the government’s key priorities. Today we are embarking on the single greatest reform of higher education in the Northern Territory since the Northern Territory University itself was established here in 1990. Members would recall that, in 1980s, the Darwin Institute of Technology and the university Campus of the Northern Territory, a branch of the University of Queensland, provided advanced and higher education to Territorians, but it was limited in its offering.

The merger of these two institutions into the Northern Territory University, under the guidance of the then federal minister, John Dawkins, and then NT Education Minister, Tom Harris, delivered to the Territory a fully-fledged university able to offer real, locally-based education options to students who, until that time, had to seriously consider moving interstate to gain further higher education. Today we take that process one step further. Today we will reinvent the Northern Territory University, changing its name and bringing together a mix of institutions aimed at providing quality advanced education, higher education and research to our community. This step was necessary because, in the latter part of the 1990s, the Northern Territory University had lost its way. In some ways it brought this on itself through a failure to define its mission and intent and its linkages to local students in its region. In other ways, it became part of a cycle of problems generated because of reductions in funding and resources, leading to a vicious cycle of reductions in students courses and attractiveness.

I was determined to fulfil the Chief Minister’s pledge to bring together a new facility that could reassert its role both here and regionally. With the creation of the Charles Darwin University, for the first time in the Territory’s history, we will have a single world-class facility, offering enhanced tertiary training and research capacities. The university will become an integral part of the social and economic fabric of the Northern Territory and will play a crucial role in the future prosperity of Territorians.

This is a unique part of the world. Its future development and success is dependent on local residents having a unique and complex mix of skills and capacities to meet the particular needs of our community. By combining and building on the many strengths of three of our existing institutions which have operated as separate entities up until now, we will be able to grow our intellectual capital and skills base. The Northern Territory University is, in its current guise, unable to deliver some of those skills to residents, or provide the research base the Territory needs. The Territory’s small population base but large land mass is one of the biggest challenges the Northern Territory University has faced since its inception. Limited enrolments has meant the university has not been able to provide the full range of courses Territory residents want. Neither could it attract the sort of funds needed to allow it to expand.

In the training area, it has been in direct competition with Centralian College in the delivery of some programs, leading to duplication of administrative functions. NTU’s limited size has also meant it has never been able to grow its research capacity or meet the development needs of the Territory. Its size has also stopped it from attracting research income and, consequently, the senior researchers needed to support development in the Territory and provide high quality teaching and academic leadership.

Charles Darwin University will draw together a number of the Territory’s fragmented and separately funded institutions: the NTU; Centralian College; and the Menzies School of Health Research. While each of these institutions has achieved a great deal separately, bringing them together will reduce duplication in the system, and fragmentation of effort. It will greatly strengthen our capacity in training and higher education delivery and research.

It will see the Territory attract more tertiary and research dollars. It will allow us to further explore the rich research potential of our area of the world. Growing our research capacity will help us to attract world class researchers and academics to participate in projects related to our tropical and desert environments that will be of national and international significance. Importantly, it will provide more of young people with a real alternative to studying interstate and staying there once they have completed their studies.

Charles Darwin University means for the first time, we will truly have a university for all Territorians, not just those living in the Top End. It will give Centralians access to tertiary education that previously they would have had to leave home to receive. At the same time, Top End residents will benefit from the quality VET delivery offered by Centralian College which will become an important arm of Charles Darwin University. We are on the brink of exciting new opportunities here in the Territory, opportunities that we want our young people to be able to take full advantage of, and Charles Darwin University will play a very important role in ensuring they are able to do so.

Its enhanced status among tertiary institutions and greater focus on research will ensure that more young Territorians are able to make the decision to stay in the Territory to undertake further studies and subsequently use their qualifications and skills to build a fulfilling career right here. An important element of the new university will be the creation of the Institute of Advanced Studies, which will provide the Territory with a world class research capacity, including post graduate research training in niche areas. Close links will be established between the Institute of Advanced Studies and the various faculties at university, giving tertiary students access to outstanding academics and high quality teaching. This will help us to attract more interstate and international students here, and grow our enrolment base.

Another important arm of Charles Darwin University will be the Menzies School of Health Research. Menzies reputation is known throughout the world, particularly for its work in areas of tropical and indigenous health. While Menzies will become a controlled entity of the university, its existing research functions will not change. One of the greatest benefits attached to Menzies developing strong formal ties with the university, is that it will receive increased Commonwealth support of research infrastructure grants to the order of $3m each year.

Madam Speaker, on another matter, I am aware the name Charles Darwin University, for some people, may be contentious. I want to assure members of the House, not only does the family of Charles Darwin strongly support the use of his name in this way, but Charles Darwin undeniably remains one of the great thinkers of the modern era. He is widely acknowledged as a scientist who transformed the way we see ourselves, and for the high standards he set in critical thinking and observation. Its entirely appropriate, and an honour, for the Territory to build a university using his distinguished name.

Turning to the two bills being introduced. The first will allow for the establishment of the new Charles Darwin University, and the second will allow for the creation of a close and formal relationship between the new university and the Menzies School of Health Research. The intention to create a new university means that the legal status of the contributing parties, in this case Centralian College and the Northern Territory University, will be disestablished and then amalgamated to form a new university. Amendments to the Menzies School of Health Research legislation will allow the school to retain its independence while establishing this close and formal relationship with the new university. Both institutions will be derive mutual benefit from the merger leading to increased capacity in health education and research for the Territory.

It is intended that that Charles Darwin University Bill will alter existing provisions of the University Act to implement an new structure for the university council, create a single academic board, establish the new name and establish an Institute of Advanced Studies. The primary focus of this bill is to create a tertiary and higher education environment in the Northern Territory that will contribute to sustainable social and economic development. The bill establishes a university committed to providing education, research in the public service that will create a knowledge capital for the future welfare and prosperity of Territorians.

The drivers that have shaped the reforms for the new university are compelling. The Territory needs a strong university to attract and retain our skilled population. We also need a university with the capacity to produce and support talented people in the professions. It is this resident, intellectual and skill capacity that will power future territory development.

A university built on the principles of providing education, research in the public service relevant to the Territory, characterised by equity and accessibility is the only way forward. The new university embraces an attitude of service, especially service to government, industry, commerce and the community. The Charles Darwin University Bill describes a university which has a strong community extension role, and a considerably strengthened research role. Adding these elements to the pre-existing offerings of the university completes a framework that will meet the Territory’s needs now and into the future. This model for the new university does not diminish the importance of existing TAFE and higher education courses already on offer. Rather, this model adds value to them and strengthens the university’s ability to meet the tertiary and training needs of Territorians. The Charles Darwin University Bill establishes an institution and ensures all Territorians have pathways to tertiary education and training opportunities.

Madam Speaker, the proposed amendments to the Menzies School of Health Research Act establishes the close formal relationship between the Menzies School of Health Research and the new university. The key objective of this new relationship is to realise enhanced financial benefits and further strengthen workforce and research capacity in the best interests of the Territory.

The original functions of the Menzies School of Health Research are preserved in the amended legislation. The bill establishes a relationship that assures a high level of respect and recognition for Menzies within the university community. The bill proposes a relationship that supports growth and excellence. Significantly, this relationship assures that Menzies research staff will be recognised in the Australian university sector as leaders in tropical and indigenous research and postgraduate training. Furthermore, the research staff will contribute to the success of building a university of distinction, serving the Northern Territory as it should be served.

It is the intention of the Charles Darwin University Bill and the proposed amendments to the Menzies School of Health Research Act to give Territorians access to an education and knowledge environment that recognises indigenous culture and empowers, emancipates and provides the means for people to control their own futures. It is the start of a new and exciting era for training, higher education and research in the Territory. Charles Darwin University will build on our existing strengths in these areas to become a crucial lynchpin in our efforts to build a better, smarter Territory.

Madam Speaker, I commend these bills to honourable members.

Debate adjourned.

 

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