Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Rhiannon once again for her question. Again, I do not accept the premise of your question, Senator Rhiannon. There are more students studying in Australian universities now than in the entire history of this country. More students are studying and they are studying because of the policies of this government, the fact that we have been prepared to match our words with funding, and the university sector is continuing to improve and increase.

The reality is that the bargaining processes that we have set up under the Fair Work system enabled both parties, the universities and their employees, to sit down and negotiate a set of terms and conditions. That is the system we have set up. It is a fair system; it is fair to all of the parties. We encourage all of the parties to do that. That is going to result in a good outcome, I believe, for the workers who work for the universities and it is also good for— (Time expired)