Has the Minister for Education, Science and Training Misled Parliament or is he Just a Smart Arse? (March 17, 2005)

    On Tuesday the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Brendan Nelson asked in Federal Parliament why hungry customers would buy a sausage roll at the University of Sydney when they could buy one nearby for less and get better service. As proof he cited the cafeteria at Sydney University as a demonstration of all that was wrong with services subsidised by the student union. Dr Nelson told Parliament, "Why is it that a student in the 21st century goes to Sydney University to pay $2 for a sausage roll when they can buy one for $1.70 off campus and be served by a person who actually smiles at them?"

Has Dr Nelson misled the Federal Parliament?

If The Australian's Drew Warne-Smith's investigative reporting can be relied upon we can surmise that Dr Nelson has at the very least been selective in his "truth".

    While several bakeries on King Street, Newtown, not far from Sydney University, served up cheaper sausage rolls, they were paltry fare compared with the Balfour's Big Fella [that was sold to Dr Nelson]. 

    At a whopping 180 grams of A-grade sausage roll, the $2 Big Fella is pastry's Rolls Royce, and it comes with complementary tomato sauce.

    An equivalent-sized sausage roll at Gloria Jeans in Newtown cost $3.75. At nearby Shakespeares, $2.90.

 

It was a similar story at the Queensland University of Technology. The Student Guild's canteen charged $2 for a pre-packaged sausage roll. At the Characters Cafe on George Street, the price was $2.50.

 

[However, in fairness] At Melbourne University, a sausage roll was a whole 70 cents dearer than some sold on Lygon Street.