Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — My adjournment matter this evening is for Mr Hall in his capacity as the Minister for Higher Education and Skills, and it is in relation to the Glenormiston campus of South West TAFE. The minister would be more than aware from the question I asked him yesterday that there continues to be speculation and concern within the community about the ongoing operation of Glenormiston. As I understand it, the minister met with the Corangamite Shire Council fairly recently.
Glenormiston has a special place in the hearts of many people in the south-west. A lot of people attended school there, a lot of people have been married there and a lot of people have picnicked there. It is part and parcel of the district. It is a mansion, and the landscape is iconic, as is the staircase and a number of other things inside the mansion.
As the minister knows, agricultural education has been held there for a long time. I recall there being a public tender process in relation to the campus in 2008 and Skills Victoria announced that South West TAFE would be awarded the Glenormiston College lease and continue to operate the facility as a specialist agricultural and equine college. On 11 September 2009 I represented the then Minister for Regional and Rural Development and was there for the signing of the lease. I clearly remember that day because unfortunately Josie Black — a member of the board — had sadly passed away that morning. I understood from what people said about the lease on that day that it was to continue as an agricultural and equine facility.
The action I am seeking from the minister is that as soon as possible he outline what the future of that facility will be: whether the lease means that it must continue as an agricultural and equine facility; whether it will operate in some other capacity; whether the lease will continue; whether the government will call it in and ask if there will be other government departments and authorities that may be interested in it; or whether it will be put up for sale. That is the action I seek.