The Nationals endorse Muresk recommendations, Gardiner
Author: Philip Gardiner
Published on: 23-March-2010
Member for the Agricultural Region, Hon Philip Gardiner MLC, today advised that the recommendations of his completed independent report into the future and commercial viability of the Muresk Institute had been adopted by The Parliamentary National Party (WA).
The commissioner of the report, Hon Brendon Grylls MLA, Minister for Regional Development; Lands received the report on 22 February. It has now been delivered to Hon Hendy Cowan who is conducting a broader review into tertiary agricultural education in Western Australia and who may build on these recommendations.
Mr Gardiner said he had sought to deliver on Minister Grylls’s request for refreshing ideas and had determined to deliver a comprehensive report in a short timeframe.
“I was conscious of the need to minimise the time taken to prepare recommendations,” he said. “The longer uncertainty prevails the more difficult it is to rebuild the Institute’s outstanding educational reputation and long-term sustainability.”
Mr Gardiner said that of the 22 recommendations the decisive view is a proposal for Muresk to become a distinctive, on-campus live in facility from which program providers can deliver academic courses across a number of levels.
“I have recommended that Muresk be a professional, independent institute, separate from any single education entity,” he said.
“The institute would then negotiate with academic providers from a number of fields to provide teaching in such areas as TAFE programs and flight instruction, as well as continuing the outstanding agribusiness programs Curtin University has sought to offer.
“I have recommended that the multi-academic level approach also include a high level short course program focused on the world’s agricultural issues and the relevance of business in dealing with managing food production to meet the growing population. The program would cover topics such as climate change, water, energy, soil fertility, yields, impending shortage of nutrient supplies and food security, all increasingly relevant in today’s world.
In announcing the release of the report Mr Gardiner extended his appreciation to the members of his sounding board for their contribution, namely Mr Colin Carter, Dr Ian Fairnie, Mr Rob Meecham, Ms Wendy Newman, Professor Ian Reid, Mr John Scott, Mr Ken Sevenson and Mr Crawford Taylor.
For further information please view the Muresk Report released February 2010.
