Dear Editor
I am truly disheartened by the decision of Minister Sue Ellery and the McGowan Government to walk away from the Charles Sturt University Bachelor of Agribusiness currently offered at the Muresk Institute.
So much effort by the previous Government, industry and employees has gone into re-establishing the campus as a centre for excellence in agriculture, but this has clearly been lost on a Minister whose focus is elsewhere.
Charles Sturt University stepped up where others refused to engage and while there have been some challenges, they are not insurmountable. No-one is arguing for perpetual funding – but they do require some additional funding to enable student numbers to reach a sustainable level.
A few short years after Curtin withdrew, leaving the Institute in a parlous state, it seems they are back.
Every West Australian university had the opportunity to work with Government to establish a degree level course, on-campus, meeting the needs of industry and students – but they chose not to.
The two-year associate degree will no doubt require students to spend part of their studies at Curtin’s Bentley campus in Perth, detracting from their ability to complete quality tertiary education in a regional setting.
In its first few months the Labor Government has walked away from funding support for Muresk, removed the Director of agricultural education from the Department and cut $6 million from grower group research and development programs.
The early signs from this Government are not good for agriculture sector or the communities that rely on it.
Hon Mia Davies MLA
Leader of The Nationals WA
Member for Central Wheatbelt