Board of Adult and Community Education Repeal Bill 2008

Debated resumed from 6 May 2008.

Mr ANDREW STONER (Oxley—Leader of The Nationals) [11.30 a.m.]: I lead for the Coalition on the Board of Adult and Community Education Repeal Bill 2008. The purpose of this bill is to repeal the Board of Adult and Community Education Act 1990. According to the Minister for Education and Training, following a period of discussion and consultation with the adult education sector, in June 2007 the Board of Adult and Community Education unanimously agreed to disband and be replaced with the New South Wales Advisory Committee on Community Education. The Board of Adult and Community Education was designed to promote the provision of adult and community education in New South Wales, allocate government funds to adult and community education providers, and advise the Minister of needs and trends in adult and community education.

The New South Wales Advisory Committee on Community Education, which will replace the board under this legislation, will carry out the same functions. It will consist of nine members and meet twice a year. Unlike the former board, the committee will include a representative from New South Wales community colleges, something the Coalition welcomes. It must be noted, however, that the aims of the advisory committee do not include the former board's aim of allocating government funds to adult and community education providers, which reflects the policy of this Government to reduce the level of funding for community colleges. Indeed, the Carr and Iemma Labor governments have overseen an effective halving of funding to the adult and community education sector from approximately $9 million per annum in 2002-03 to $4.3 million this year.

Such a diminution in resources for adult and community education providers has stretched the sector and made its role very challenging. They have a valid role, particularly in regional and rural communities where access to a university, a TAFE or other forms of learning can be limited. They have a legitimate role as many members of the community want to access adult and community education. They may not undertake it for vocational reasons or it may not directly relate to their industry need. However, that does not make education any less legitimate, particularly for older citizens who may want to catch up with technology and use the Internet to communicate with their families or to pursue a particular hobby. Education is life long and we ought to back the adult and community education sector much better than this Government does.

The New South Wales Community Colleges would eventually like a reinstatement of a Board of Adult and Community Education, given the Coalition's level of support for that sector as opposed to this Government's level of support. Until such time, community colleges do not oppose the abolition of the board by this Government and its replacement with the advisory committee. I note that the Legislation Review Committee considered this bill and on 5 May 2008 stated:

While the Committee notes that the Board of Adult and Community Education agreed unanimously to the disbanding of the board, the Committee also notes that the proposed clause 4 (b) removes the right to remuneration or compensation as a result of the loss of office when the Bill repeals the Act and disbands the Board. Accordingly, the Committee considers this may unduly trespass on personal rights of Board members, and refers this to Parliament.

Given the concern expressed by the Legislation Review Committee, I ask the Minister to address that concern in the Government's reply to the debate. Assuming that that concern will be adequately addressed, the Liberal-Nationals Coalition does not oppose the bill.

Mr DAVID HARRIS (Wyong) [11.35 a.m.]: I have pleasure in supporting the Board of Adult and Community Education Repeal Bill 2008, which is about supporting community and adult education. Such education is worthwhile. As the Leader of The Nationals said, it is an important part of our community. As an educator I always promoted the concept of life-long learning and that all learning is important. When one gets older learning is still as relevant as when one started school. The Iemma Government has an unparalleled record in vocational education and training. This State has the nation's premier vocational education and training provider—that is, TAFE NSW. TAFE NSW has a fantastic reputation, not just in New South Wales but across the country and internationally, with respect to the quality courses it delivers to a wide range of people in our community. Along with that important organisation is a growing network of trade schools, a new initiative of the Iemma Government. I have one in my electorate of Wyong. The Wyong trade school was set up this year and it is delivering courses for students in years 11 and 12 in electro-technology and aged care nursing. There are skills shortages in those areas. The Government is addressing that issue.

The Government has also delivered an efficient adult and community education sector. For 17 years the Board of Adult and Community Education supported and promoted the sector and responded to its changing needs. In 2006 members of the board determined that a new mechanism was required to link the sector to government departments and non-government agencies. It unanimously agreed to disband and the board recommended the establishment of an advisory committee. Last month a successful first meeting of the New South Wales Advisory Committee on Community Education was held. Last year I attended the launch at Ourimbah campus. The Hon. John Della Bosca, the Minister for Education and Training, addressed a large audience of people involved in the industry from the business sector, the university and the secondary school sector. It was during Adult Learner's Week. He said:

Today is the start of Adult Learners' Week, a fitting time for the NSW Government to affirm its commitment to community education in NSW.

He continued:

The time is right to recognise the important contribution adult and community education providers make in enriching their communities and to set out future directions for the role that community education can play in achieving the goals of the NSW State Plan.

That significant announcement highlighted the importance that community education is all about enriching local communities. The chair of the committee, Dr John McIntyre, established the agenda for the work of the committee by outlining the issues that face the sector: credibility in policy, client focus, capability, collaboration and certainty in funding. It is an encouraging start for a sector that has significantly improved its services delivery in recent years.

Since 2003 adult and community education has increased the hours of the vocational education and training it delivers by a massive 65 per cent. As the Leader of The Nationals said, a large number of people in the community are turning to an ever-growing list of courses, dealing with art and craft, learning skills, cooking, mechanics and photography—a wide range of activities. More courses are being added, including business skills and computing skills. The new Advisory Committee on Community Education will work to continue the excellent work of that sector. The New South Wales Government values the roles that community colleges play in the vocational training landscape of the State and in their local communities, and supports the agenda of the New South Wales Advisory Committee on Community Education.

I advise members that a meeting was held this morning at which Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes of the upper House told the story that he has enrolled in his local community college. He had helped set up the community college on the Central Coast. He is about to commence a watercolour painting course, something that he has enjoyed doing for a long time. He said it is now time for him to hone his skills and use the course to ensure that he has an activity that helps him reduce the stress levels of working at Parliament House. It also adds a vital skill to his life. He certainly leads a varied and rich life. Members of this House could take advantage of community college courses and recognise the fantastic courses that are offered. I commend all members of the public to look closely at the courses offered by community education. If one course takes their interest, they should join in and continue that very important life-long learning role. I commend the bill to the House.

Mr THOMAS GEORGE (Lismore) [11.41 a.m.]: The Opposition will not oppose the Board of Adult and Community Education Repeal Bill 2008. I am proud to say that I am a product of the adult and community education colleges, known as ACE colleges. I attended my first computer course, and there has been only one, at the college in Casino. The adult and community education facilities at Lismore and Murwillumbah do a fantastic job, and I pay tribute to them. The purpose of the bill is to repeal the Board of Adult and Community Education Act 1990. In June 2007 the Board of Adult and Community Education unanimously agreed to disband. The board is to be replaced with the New South Wales Advisory Committee on Community Education.

The board was designed to promote the provision of adult and community education in New South Wales. It is important for country and regional areas to have community education resources available because in remote areas they provide outreach education. That is greatly appreciated by those communities as it provides them with an opportunity to attend classes in their own area. The board allocates government funds to adult and community education providers and advises the Minister of needs and trends in adult and community education. The board's replacement, the New South Wales Advisory Committee on Community Education, will consist of nine members and will meet twice a year. Notably, it will include a representative from the organisation Community Colleges New South Wales, which the board did not include. That is very important.

It must be noted that the aims of the new advisory committee do not include the existing board's aim of allocating government funds to adult and community education providers—most probably because the New South Wales Government funding for Community Colleges New South Wales has effectively been halved since 2002-03. It is of major concern to all the colleges in my area that that cut in funding has restricted the available courses and left very little work for the board in funding allocations. The cut affects the services provided in rural and regional New South Wales. The shadow Minister, the Leader of The Nationals, highlighted the concerns of the committee of the removal of the right to remuneration or compensation as a result of a loss of office when the bill repeals the Act and disbands the board—and I ask the Government to address that concern. Accordingly, the committee considers that may unduly trespass on personal rights of board members and refers that concern to Parliament. I ask the Parliamentary Secretary, the member for Maroubra, to address that issue in his reply. As stated by the shadow Minister, provided that that issue is properly addressed the Opposition will not oppose the bill.

Pursuant to sessional orders business interrupted and set down as an order of the day for a future day.