MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:04): Again I thank the member for his question. What I did in my substantive response was outline where the responsibilities lie in relation to the state and the commonwealth. What my question to you and your party is: what are you going to do? Are you going to pick up the phone to Canberra?
Mr Davis: On a point of order, President, it is not the case that ministers are able to ask the opposition questions in question time. It is the case that the opposition and the non-government parties ask the government questions in question time.
The PRESIDENT: Minister, back to answering, please.
Ms Pulford: On the point of order, President, is it not incumbent under our standing orders for members of the opposition to direct their questions to ministers on matters for which the ministers actually have responsibility? Curriculum in universities?
Ms TIERNEY: I pose the rhetorical question: I wonder what those over there are going to do in terms of picking up the phone or sending an email to their colleagues in Canberra, who are responsible for the funding of universities in this country, and actually say, ‘We want a whole range of these courses to continue at La Trobe and other places’. No, of course you hear the silence—silence, silence, silence. But I do remember and remind people in this chamber, particularly those over there, as well as others on the crossbench and members of the government, that the university is currently seeking feedback on proposals, and I encourage you to— (Time expired)
