Mrs MAY (1:52 PM) —Last month Bond University celebrated a great milestone—the long-awaited medical school opened with the first intake of 72 medical students. This group of students began classes in the new $20 million purpose-built Health Sciences and Medical Faculty Building on Monday, 16 May.

On Tuesday, 17 May, the Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson, the federal Minister for Education, Science and Training, in an official visit to Bond University, joined the first medical students in one of the state-of-the-art lecture theatres for a personal and professional development lecture. Dr Nelson addressed the students on the importance of having doctors trained on the Gold Coast to service the south-east Queensland community. Dr Nelson toured the new facility with the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Robert Stable, and Dean of Health Sciences and Medicine, Professor Chris del Mar, and Deputy Dean, Professor Debra Henly.

Hard hats were the order of the day. The finishing touches were still being done to the building, but it was very clear to see just what this facility had to offer the new students—a first-class, state-of-the-art facility that will deliver for the future new doctors of great skill, who are being educated on the Gold Coast at Bond University. Professor Chris del Mar and his staff are committed to leaving no stone unturned in providing the best environment to train these young people with the professional skills, the knowledge and the professional development that each of them will need to embark on successful medical careers to serve our communities in the future. They are to be congratulated. (Time expired)