Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Financial Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I congratulate the staff, students and supporters of the University of New South Wales, which celebrated its 70th anniversary last week. Established in 1949 with a focus on scientific, technological and professional disciplines, UNSW is one of Australia's leading research and teaching universities. Indeed, it's one of the top 100 world-ranked universities, with more than 59,000 students, and a cutting-edge research community of 7,000 members. It was highly appropriate that it achieved the 71st world ranking on its 70th birthday. Most of the students who come to the main campus at Kensington, in the electorate of Kingsford Smith, leave to take on the world. UNSW and its alumni have made a huge contribution to local innovation and global advancements. Last Thursday evening I joined the chancellor, David Gonski, the president and vice-chancellor, Professor Ian Jacobs, and many others to celebrate that 70th anniversary. Cath Harris, who spoke as a former student, I think summed it up when she said, 'If you want to make money, you go to the University of Sydney. If you want to change the world, you go to the University of New South Wales.'

It was also an occasion to recognise the current direction and to provide a glimpse of what the next 70 years might bring. The university continues to pioneer research and sustained innovation, addressing some of the world's most important issues, including quantum computing, renewable energy, refugee law, lifesaving medical treatments and breakthrough space technologies. Congratulations to the University of New South Wales on your 70th birthday.