Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

Yes. Another area where the education minister seems to be all over the place is when it comes to who controls what goes on in universities. Back in July 2006—so not that long ago—the minister for education proposed that the Commonwealth seize control of universities from the states. She said:

My suggestion is that we have one body, one accreditation agency.

So it was all to be done by the Commonwealth. But we did not hear any more about this after she was comprehensively rolled by the state ministers. Not a word about it since July until last week, when I read in the Age newspaper a completely contrary view. The minister said:

Universities are creatures of our states.

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