Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Hansard source

I welcome the government's response to this Senate report. This is a vital issue that is central to the nation's future. Our Chief Scientist said just three days ago:

The future of agriculture – and consequently the future of this country – rests on our capacity to back you with science.

… … …

A modern farm needs a workforce that makes innovation its daily agenda – and a culture that puts science at its core.

So I find it extraordinary that the government's response is silent on the most pressing issue of agricultural science—the mismatch between agricultural science and jobs and this government's unfair cuts to higher education. This is especially the case given the focus the government has placed on increasing our agricultural productivity and performance in order to take advantage of the recently negotiated bilateral trade agreements.

Science and agricultural science will be savagely hit by the higher education legislation that is currently before this chamber. The vice-chancellor of Charles Sturt University said that as a result of the government's changes:

Science fees would need to be increased by 62%, Agriculture by 48% and Environmental Studies by 114%.

He said that as a result an agricultural degree at Melbourne University could cost between $97,000 and $112,000—as a direct result of the changes that this government is introducing. The Weekly Times reports that it is cheaper for students to undertake this tertiary study in New Zealand and in Canada and the United States than it would be to undertake this study in Australia. I just want to repeat that, because we have heard some words uttered just in the last hour or so from the government benches about the cost of the government's proposed changes. I repeat: the vice-chancellor of Charles Sturt University said that as a result of the government's changes science fees would need to increase by 62 per cent, agriculture fees by 48 per cent and environmental studies fees by 114 per cent, and at Melbourne University you would see an agricultural degree costing between $97,000 and $112,000.

The Chief Scientist has singled out agriculture as one of those areas in need of desperate government attention. Professor Chubb said that Australia desperately needed the skills of agricultural scientists, with free trade agreements demanding an increased level of food production, plus changing rainfall patterns and farming regions shifting. He said:

The cost of an agricultural science degree to a student would go up something like 37 per cent. Why would you charge them more to do a degree that's so critically important to our international relations, to our own capacity to produce food for ourselves, and to export it as well?

I think that is a pretty good question, and I would ask why the government is pursuing a policy that so seriously disadvantages agricultural science in this country.

More importantly, where is the National Party on this issue? Where are the country based Liberals on this issue? This is another reason this government must reconsider this legislation. This is why this legislation ought to go back to the drawing board. This is a government that has clearly made higher education a battle ground for the next election. And I would welcome that. There should be no more significant an issue for the public to be able to cast a vote upon. It will be a battle ground in regional seats, not just in the cities. Australians know that these changes will have catastrophic effects on rural industries, catastrophic effects on regional communities. This is a government that should wake up to itself and reject these proposals, should withdraw these bills—not just postpone them until after the Queensland election. It should actually get these bills off the Notice Paper, these relentless cuts, these relentless assaults upon the fundamental principle of a fair go in this country. This is a government that should withdraw these bills, and I am looking forward to the day that happens.