Cory Bernardi (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

It gives me a great deal of pleasure to follow Senator McKenzie's words in the brief time before we go on to other business. I would like to echo the sentiments of my coalition colleagues, who have some concerns about—I will use these terms—the dumbing-down of some of our higher education areas, and particularly the importance of maths and science in respect of the future prosperity and innovation in our nation. The fact that science will play a pivotal role in Australia's future technological advancement is, I think, beyond any shadow of a doubt. If there are any concerns in the community, we only have to look at some of our Asian neighbours and competitors in the technological field, where there are an enormous number of graduates in the science, mathematics and engineering disciplines. They invest quite wisely in that education process, because there is an understanding about how important it is for the future of their countries. Australia cannot afford to be left behind in this race, because we do live in that global village where there is the flow of capital that will go to where the greatest minds can be tapped and potentially utilised. I will conclude my remarks there.

Debate interrupted.