Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

Universities are places where new industries, products and services are born. They are increasingly vital hubs in the industry networks and the clusters of the knowledge economy. If we neglect our universities, the whole innovation system suffers. No nation can compete internationally without an internationally competitive university system. This is precisely the kind of system this government is building with a sweeping program of investment and reform that will deliver excellence in research, in teaching, in learning, in community engagement and in collaboration with industry. We cannot achieve these things without making substantive changes, both structurally and culturally. Individuals and institutions must get better at working together, at sharing resources and at thinking about how they can contribute most effectively to the success of the system as a whole. We must be more international in our outlook. We must be ready to face comparison with the world’s best. The government’s higher education revolution is all about harnessing the creativity of the Australian people and applying it to the great task of improving our standard of living and enriching our ways of life.

The statement which we have tabled today has been prepared jointly by me and the Minister for Education. It provides a snapshot of our progress to date and our priorities for 2010.