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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 1103 asked in the Legislative Council on 7 December 2021 by Hon Sophia Moermond

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

PERTH UNIVERSITIES — MERGER

1103. Hon SOPHIA MOERMOND to the Minister for Education and Training:

I refer the minister to recent renewed calls for the four public universities here in Perth to be merged into one so-called ''super uni''.

(1) Does the McGowan government have any plans to facilitate talks between the four institutions in question to discuss this option further?

(2) In the event of a merger, will the government commit to at least maintaining, if not growing, the Albany campus to ensure that tertiary education remains within the reach of students in the south west who wish to complete their studies at home?

Hon SUE ELLERY replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.

(1) This is a matter for the universities to consider.

Hon Neil Thomson: The state.

Hon SUE ELLERY: Pardon?

Hon Neil Thomson: It's state legislation.

The PRESIDENT: Order!

Hon SUE ELLERY: The question was does the McGowan government have any plans to facilitate talks between the four institutions to discuss this option further, and the answer, honourable member, is —

(1) This is a matter for the universities to consider.

(2) This would be a matter to be considered by any merged university if it were to form. The Minister for Education and Training does not have the power to affect the operational decisions of Western Australian universities.

Hon Nick Goiran: It does.

Hon SUE ELLERY: That is a fact, mate!

Hon Nick Goiran interjected.

The PRESIDENT: Order! It is question time.