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Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Page: 192

Senator MARSHALL (Victoria) (18:59): I would like to respond very briefly, particularly to some of the last comments. Senator Mason used as an example the so-called proposal to get rid of AD and BC. As he well knows, as that was brought up in the last estimates, that is not the proposal at all. There are additional terms that are used commonly across the world in academia to describe different years and different dates. All the curriculum was doing was to add those things so students would know what they are when they come across them.

Senator Mason: That's not right!

Senator MARSHALL: That is right. That was the evidence given and it was clear. There was no attempt to get rid of these terms. They were sorry that they did not make it perfectly clear at the time because they did not know there would be people out there being mischievous by trying to beat up some story about it. That was all they were trying to do. They did not feel that every time they wanted to add something new to the curriculum they would have to explain that that did not mean they were taking anything away. You would expect that to be quite self-explanatory.

It gives me some concern when Senator Mason, in mocking terminology, described these people as 'professional educational bureaucrats', as if mocking the responsibility they have.

Senator Mason: They're not elected!

Senator MARSHALL: They are professionals who study these things. I must say I would be more confident about having these professionals, who engage in what is required in the profession of education, setting the curriculum than Senator Mason, who has a very biased and political view of life, setting the curriculum from a political perspective. I think it is dangerous when politicians get involved in writing the curriculum for our students and ignoring the advice of the professionals. Senator Mason ran this line constantly through the estimates process. He ought not keep doing it. Senator Mason, yours is a very old-fashioned view of life, and I do not think you should be imposing your biased views on everyone else and simply ignoring those who have studied and have the professional expertise to develop these things.

Senator Mason: Liberal democracy is old-fashioned, is it?

Senator MARSHALL: Acting Deputy President Crossin, Senator Mason seems to be getting in more words than I am.

The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Crossin ): Order! I have called Senator Mason to order a number of times. I think because you are yelling across the chamber you have not quite heard what I have said. Continue, Senator Marshall.

Senator MARSHALL: I do not say for a minute that Senator Mason is not passionate about these things, because he raises them on a regular basis. I do not question his commit­ment to education, because I know he is deeply committed to it. But I do caution him against simply saying that, as a politician coming from a political view, we should be making decisions about professional educa­tion without taking the appropriate advice. We have professional bodies set up to advise government and to advise educa­tional syst­ems on the appropriate curriculum.

This country needs a national curriculum. It has been so long coming, we have different standards and different curricula in every state. Finally this government has the courage to set some of these reforms in process. Senator Mason, you should not take that as an opportunity to impose on the rest of the world in the educational system your particular political view of life. Quite frankly, politicians should butt out and leave it to the professionals who have done this job and will continue to do this work.

The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Marshall, are you seeking leave to continue your remarks later?

Senator MARSHALL: No.

Question agreed to.