CHAPTER 1
Introduction
Terms of reference
1.1
On 19 September 2011 the Senate referred the following matters to the
Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee for
inquiry and report by 1 March 2012:
All aspects of higher education and skills training to
support future demand in agriculture and agribusiness in
Australia be examined, including:
(a) the adequacy and priority given to funding in the
agriculture and agribusiness higher education and vocational
education and training (VET) sectors by federal, state and territory
governments;
(b) the significant decline in agricultural and related
educational facilities in the past decade, including reasons and impacts;
(c) solutions to address the widening gap between demand
and supply for higher education and VET sector graduates in agriculture and
agribusiness in Australia;
(d) the impact of this shortage in terms of agriculture
research, including research into climate change adaptation and sustainable
agricultural techniques, bio-security and food security;
(e) the economic impact on Australia's terms of trade
and reputation as a trusted supplier of high quality foodstuffs to world
markets;
(f) ways to further incorporate animal welfare
principles in agriculture courses; and
(g) any related matters.[1]
1.2
On 27 February 2012 the Senate extended the reporting date until 8 June
2012. On 8 June 2012 the committee tabled an interim report in the Senate. This
is the committee's final report.
Conduct of the inquiry
1.3
Notice of the inquiry was posted on the committee's website and
advertised in The Australian newspaper, calling for submissions by 8
November 2011. The committee also directly contacted a number of interested
parties to notify them of the inquiry and to invite submissions. The committee
has received a total of 69 public submissions as listed at Appendix 1. Appendix
1 also includes information of answers to questions on notice and documents
tabled by the committee.
1.4
The committee conducted a public hearings in Canberra on 1 February
2012, Perth on 26 March 2012 and Melbourne on 15 May 2012. Witnesses who
appeared before the committee are listed at Appendix 2.
1.5
Copies of the Hansard transcript from the hearing are tabled for the
information of the Senate. They can be accessed online at http://aph.gov.au/hansard.
Structure of this report
1.6
The committee's report is structured in the following way:
(a) Chapter 1 (this chapter) outlines the conduct of the inquiry;
(b) Chapter 2 discusses the demand for skills in agriculture and
agribusiness;
(c) Chapter 3 considers key issues in the education system, as relevant to
agribusiness and agriculture; and
(d) Chapter 4 concludes the report with key recommendations.
Note on references
1.7
Submission references in this report are to individual submissions as
received by the committee, not a bound volume. References in this report are to
the proof Hansard. Please note that page numbers may vary between the proof and
the official transcripts.
Acknowledgements
1.8
The committee would like to thank the large number of individuals and
organisations who took the time to make submissions that helped shape the committee's
deliberations.
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