Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery) Share this | Hansard source

Can I say to Senator Ryan, and can I put this on record again for all senators, that the process was totally independent. There was an independent assessment panel. I made it clear yesterday and I will make it clear again to all senators—because I think this information needs to be put on the record—the panel consisted of independent members. The panel consisted of Steve Carter from the Australian Council of Social Service, Andrew Blair from the Australian Secondary Schools Association, Bill Daniels from the Independent Schools Council of Australia, Angela Scarino from the Research Centre for Languages and Cultures and former Chief Scientist James Peacock. They made the decisions. They were not made by the minister. One of the key criteria was ‘disadvantage’. Those on the other side of the chamber do not understand disadvantage, but that is where these science and language centres are going and it was an independent process. (Time expired)