C. B. Alexander Agricultural College Funding
Reverend the Hon. Dr GORDON MOYES: I address my question without notice to the Minister for Primary Industries. Is it a fact that Commonwealth recurrent funds will no longer be paid by New South Wales Agriculture for the management and operation of the C. B. Alexander Agricultural College, which is known as Tocal, but instead will be paid to the Department of Education and Training for the same purpose? Is the Minister aware that the Tocal agricultural college has exclusively specialised in the provision of agricultural training and practical experience since its inception in 1965? Is the Minister aware that the college was handed over to the Government through the Minister for Agriculture by the Presbyterian Church as a continuing, working agricultural college in 1969, and was accepted on that basis by the then Minister? Is the Minister aware that Tocal agricultural college has provided its services to more than 3,500 full-time students since it was established, and that 95 per cent of such students have since been employed in agriculture? Is the Minister also aware that every year Tocal college has 500 part-time students and 6,000 individuals who are completing short courses?
The Hon. IAN MACDONALD: I acknowledge that the initial parts of the question of Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes are accurate. However, I advise the House that after discussions with the Treasurer I am able to state that the funding arrangements for Tocal are secure.
