General Purpose Standing Committee No. 2

The Clerk announced the receipt, pursuant to standing orders, of a report entitled "Governance of NSW Universities", dated June 2009, together with transcripts of evidence, tabled documents, submissions, answers to questions taken on notice and correspondence, received out of session and authorised to be printed on 1 June 2009.

The Hon. ROBYN PARKER [2.35 p.m.]: I move:

That the House take note of the report.

As it will be some time before the House debates the report, I take this opportunity to thank the committee and all participants in the inquiry. In particular, I thank the committee secretariat for its support and, as usual, its outstanding work. This report recognises that universities are a vital part of Australia's social and economic infrastructure. The universities called for flexibility in terms of their governance arrangements and the committee answered that call. However, the committee noted that that flexibility should not be unconstrained and that universities must act in accordance with the fundamental principles of good governance, including transparency and accountability. I look forward to debating this report on another day.

Debate adjourned on motion by the Hon. Robyn Parker and set down as an order of the day for a future day.