JOHN BRUMBY:
Today we've got a very exciting announcement about a new Australian Institute of Public Policy to be located in Melbourne at Melbourne University and to be jointly funded by the State and Federal Governments and private sector support.
As you know, from Victoria's perspective, we've always been a national leader in ideas and innovation and so generating new ideas, generating new public policy is crucial to our state. For that reason, we've been very strong supporters of the idea of a new think tank for Australia, one based in Melbourne at Melbourne University.
And today I'm delighted to announce that the State Government is contributing $15 million towards that, which is matched, of course, by the Federal Government. This new think tank will be non-partisan. It will be broadly based. It'll look at all of the big issues of our times, things like energy policy, things like climate change, things like Australia's role in the region.
This new institute has been the best part of three years in the making. Allan Myers and a large group of dedicated supporters have been working since that time and I'm delighted today that we've finally bought this project to fruition. And I might ask Julia to say a few words.
JULIA GILLARD:
Thank you. Can I say I'm delighted to join the Premier here today and Allan Myers to indicate that the Federal Government wants to work in a partnership to establish this think tank in Melbourne.
It's going to be a national leader on public policy. Obviously we want our public policy in this country informed by the best possible research, by the best possible analytical view, and that's what this think tank will be dedicated towards.
The Federal Government will match the contribution of the Victorian Government, so each contributing $15 million. It's a partnership between the two governments but also a partnership with those who have worked long and hard to bring this vision to fruition. And I congratulate Allan and the team he has worked with in that regard.
I think this is an exciting new initiative. I'm looking forward to getting this job done and seeing this think tank up and running and informing the public policy debate in this nation.
JOHN BRUMBY:
Allan, would you like to say a few words?
ALLAN MYERS:
Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr Premier and thank you, Julia. It's wonderful to be able to make this announcement. We're very grateful for the support that government has given. The University of Melbourne is provided, as well, $10 million. It will provide the home for the institute.
It's important to emphasis though that the institute is independent of the university and independent of government. The idea is that it will contribute an independent voice to public policy debate in Australia. If it has any model, it would be of the Brookings Institution in the United States, the credentials of which I think are probably well known to all of you here and many others in the community.
We have every expectation we'll get assistance from the private sector and that'll be substantial so we'll set out with something that's well-funded. It has good strategy and I'm sure it will be of great advantage to this country.
JOHN BRUMBY:
And if I could just thank Allan as well. Allan has chaired countless meetings over what has been a number of years. This wouldn't have happened without really his drive and commitment. Also, of course, the vice-chancellor of Melbourne University, Glyn Davis. Glyn couldn't be with us today, he's overseas.
So it is something that's been in the making for a number of years. It was something that was discussed with the former federal government. We were making progress there. But it's been wonderful I think, since the election of the Rudd Government, we've been able to bring what's been a long process to conclusion and see this, I think, wonderful new think tank established in Melbourne.
I should just stress it is national. It is the Australian Institute of Public Policy but it's based here in Melbourne. It's a great partnership between governments, with the university sector, with the philanthropic and private sector, and our hope is - our aspiration is that this will make a very significant contribution to public policy, new ideas, policy innovation, to best serve Australia's interest in decades to come.
QUESTION:
What sort of candidate are you looking to run the institute?
JOHN BRUMBY:
Well that's probably a question that Allan can answer. They've been looking at this issue but obviously we're looking for an exceptional person with broad networks and a strong intellectual base, but Allan?
ALLAN MYERS:
Yeah, he'll probably be an Australian or she will probably be an Australian. I think that person will have outstanding intellectual credentials. That person must have the qualities that command respect and that person will be a really good communicator as well. The search will begin in earnest now, next month. We've had preliminary talks with head hunters and the search will be worldwide.
QUESTION:
Why does Australia need another think tank?
ALLAN MYERS:
Because we don't have a really independent substantially endowed institution of this kind in this country.
QUESTION:
What will be the philosophy of this think tank, this institute?
ALLAN MYERS:
The philosophy is to provide direction and analysis in relation to matters of public policy that affect Australia. It doesn't have any ideology that drives it. It'll be a fact-based, research-based body that is not connected to any particular group within the society but will draw upon the best this country can offer. And it will certainly be connected through contact with researchers and other kinds of contact with institutions elsewhere in Australia and around the world.
JOHN BRUMBY:
I think, just to add to that, bipartisan, politically balanced. And as I said before, looking at the big global issues of our time - so that's particularly energy, climate change, the environment, Australia's place in the world but I think also some of the issues closer to home too. You know, some of the issues that have been talked about even out of 2020 summit, you know, how we give every child the best start in life. Preventative health programs, how we tackle those issues, how we can make Australia a leader in these issues.
So it is a significant endowment, as Allan has said. So 30 from the two governments, plus the private sector, the university. So you're looking at around $50 million in an endowment and that will provide really a very strong financial base for what we hope will be a world leading think tank and institute of public policy.
QUESTION:
Which companies - which are the private companies that have pledged their support already?
JOHN BRUMBY:
Well, some have and I think Allan might answer that about when the details of that are released.
ALLAN MYERS:
I don't think I can say who at the moment but we're talking to a relatively small number of the largest and most socially responsible public companies in Australia. And some have indicated commitment at a substantial level of finance and we hope to wrap all those discussions up fairly soon.
But then we would expect that we would attract financial support depending upon how well we do and I'm sure we'll do really well.
QUESTION:
How did the idea emerge some years ago or was it by and large the brainchild of the Victorian Government or…
JOHN BRUMBY:
Well this was actually a discussion which a number of us had. And I think Allan Myers might comment as well but within the university, within what I'd describe as community leaders in Melbourne, within Government, the then premier and myself and the then secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Terry Moran.
So there was a broad range of people who all took the view that if you look at particularly how, firstly, Melbourne is positioned nationally and internationally. We're a great city and a great state but one of the things that we'd been lacking is a truly national and truly international think tank on a genuinely global scale.
Then we looked at how we could, if you like, lever that into a national interest and I think they're the work of Glyn Davis in particular. The work of Allan Myers has looked at how we make this a national think tank and that, of course, has been supported by the very generous contribution of the Federal Government.
But it is - you know, I said in my Australia Day speech, you think of the three things I think that really stand out about Victoria and to some extent Australia since Federation - we've been a leader in ideas and innovation. I think our multiculturalism defines us and our philanthropy and strength of community giving also define us.
But this idea of ideas and innovation is really so crucial to our future. The new jobs in the future, so many of them will be based around innovation and the knowledge based industries. And so this is where we need to be. As Allan has said, if you compare us to the United States we just don't have the number or scale of major international think tanks as they do.
So this is an opportunity to build something, if you like, on the scale of the Brookings Institute and that's what we want to achieve.
QUESTION:
How soon do you expect that the institute might be able to produce some works or reports or…
ALLAN MYERS:
We'll be working by the last quarter of this year, but I wouldn't expect substantial work to come out on the first day or the first week. So next year we'll be well under way.
QUESTION:
And do you have any idea yet what your first topics or what needs to be looked at first?
ALLAN MYERS:
I have some ideas but I'm not prepared to tell you what they are. It will be a matter for the directors and for the man who is the director, the chief executive of the institute, to discuss.
JOHN BRUMBY:
The man or woman...
ALLAN MYERS:
Well…
JOHN BRUMBY:
…as you said before.
ALLAN MYERS:
Yes. Man or woman, yes.
QUESTION:
It will be autonomous from future governments? I mean, it'll have its own identity and direction and board that future governments can't interfere with if they change…
JOHN BRUMBY:
Well. I think that's important and, as I said, Allan first started this process a couple of years ago and one of the keys to it has been to make sure that it is bipartisan and non-political.
And in a research sense, I think it's fair to say it'll be you know pretty much in the middle of the road. It's not going to be out there on the right and it's not going to be out there on the extreme left so it's pretty much middle of the road and it will enjoy widespread support. So it's not an instrument of government and that's really important that that independence is there.
So we're putting the money in the founding fund. That's there in the foundation but really it's then up to an independent board and the CEO to determine what research should be undertaken, how it should be published and how it should be promulgated.
QUESTION:
Will this think tank be established as a charity, given charity status?
ALLAN MYERS:
It's going to be established as a corporation limited by guarantee so it's certainly independent of government.
The members will be outstanding individuals and the three founding members are going to be the Commonwealth Government, the State Government and the University of Melbourne.
The members will elect the majority of the board and the directors will elect a minority of the board. So the way it’s constituted, it'll be quite independent legally and by its operations.
It will certainly seek deductible gift status so that anyone who gives money to it will be able to enjoy a tax deduction and, in the legal sense, it'll be a charitable institution because it'll be for the general public good.
QUESTION:
Excuse me Allan, if the members are the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments and they can elect the board - the majority of the board, then why will it not be seen as in some way connected with Labor?
ALLAN MYERS:
There'll be 40 members and they'll be three.
QUESTION:
Would you say that the founding members would elect the majority of the board?
ALLAN MYERS:
No. No, the members will elect the majority of the board, not the founding members and the board or the constitution will provide for up to 40 members and when the institution commences there'll be about 20 members.
But there are three members who are named in the constitution in virtue of the substantial funding that they've given to it. But they won't, as a matter of law or substance, control its operations.
QUESTION:
Can I just ask on another matter just on the taxi protest? How is it that Melbourne's busiest intersection can be shut down for more than 20 hours today?
JOHN BRUMBY:
Well, I understand that Minister Kosky will be commenting on these matters almost as I speak, simultaneously.
She's had the meeting today with the taxi drivers and obviously they're very upset about the vicious assault that occurred and naturally they're concerned about their safety and I fully sympathise with their concerns about safety.
Having said that, I think the way in which they shut down a number of city streets is not the best way to get their message out. So I hope that after the meeting today - I understand it's been a productive meeting - I hope that after that meeting these things will settle down.
But I just repeat, I think everyone would sympathise very much with the taxi drivers. They're entitled to do their job without fear of being assaulted and it was a very vicious assault. But by the same token, I don't think they help their cause by closing down Melbourne for a number of hours.
QUESTION:
Do you think the police standing back and letting it continue for such a long time is the right move or should they have gone in earlier and sorted it out quicker?
JOHN BRUMBY:
Well, I think it's a difficult and it's a volatile environment and I think to be fair, you know, I can remember instances back in the 1990s. I can remember back when I was opposition leader where there was I think a similar assault and taxi drivers were very unhappy about that and blocked some streets for a while.
And I remember the debate - there was a debate about the safety shields at the time and that debate really hasn't changed. You've got a number of drivers who are adamant that they want them. You've got an equal number who are adamant that they don't so it's a difficult debate. At the end of the day, though, our paramount concern is to ensure that the drivers are as safe as possible and Minister Kosky, I think, will announce - make some announcements today as a result of those discussions.
QUESTION:
Sorry, from the police aspect, should they have gone in earlier?
JOHN BRUMBY: Well, I'm just saying to you that I think if you look over the last decade there have probably been other examples of where taxis have taken action. And the police have adjudged on an operational basis that it's not appropriate to move in, in a heavy handed sort of way and they applied the same rules today.
QUESTION:
Ms Gillard, on another matter, the Victorian Government's considering introducing HECS-style loan schemes to TAFE and VET in a bid to tackle the skills crisis.
It says it wanted to do this with the support of the Federal Government, of course. Is this something that the Federal Government would back?
JULIA GILLARD:
Look, I've seen that Minister Jacinta Allan has launched her discussion paper. It's obviously something that we will have a very good look at. It's there for the purpose of discussion and consultation.
We're working with our state and territory colleagues right around the country to talk about a better future for vocational education and training. And those discussions will continue through the COAG Productivity Working Group which I chair and also through the relevant ministerial council which the Minister, Jacinta Allan is a member of.
QUESTION:
So do you think the HECS-style loans can, would encourage more people into training, VET training?
JULIA GILLARD:
Well, obviously Victoria is there considering these issues. They're out for public discussion. Minister Allan sits on the relevant ministerial council and there'll be further discussions about it there.
We want to strengthen vocational education and training. We know we've got a skills crisis. We've got big plans; the investment of 450,000 new training places. We're working with our state and territory colleagues now, not only on those training places, but what else can be done to better invest in our vocational education and training system.
Those discussions will continue. We're due to enter the new agreement between governments about those investments at the end of this year.
ENDS