When ASIO Goes Recruiting Remember This. (November 2, 2005)

    When the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation begins to set about hunting for those 980 new recruits to double the size of its staff, it seems reasonable to ask where does it (or Prime Minister John Howard) expect to find them.

    Michael McKinley, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the Australian National University with research interests in Strategic Studies, Australian foreign policy and regional security, has as much as said "don't bother lookin' 'round here, mate, you won't find the right sort of makings in the Australian tertiary education sector."

Of course his assessment will be rubbished but think on this:

And the percentage of higher education funding derived from the federal government has fallen from 53.8% in 1996/97  to 40.75%  in 2004/05.

According to Mr RJ Hawke (former Labor PM) From 1996 to 2003, public investment in Australian tertiary institutions - 8%,  rest of the developed world, average  + 38%.

So while the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Brendan Nelson keeps kicking the universities around, suddenly we're told we must recruit over the next five years an additional near 1,000 ASIO staff to keep us secure. Therefore, with the nation's well being foremost on his mind we're told by The Age that Liberal MPs are urging Dr Nelson to amend the [voluntary student unionism] legislation so that it takes effect in the second semester of next year and Dr Nelson is believed to be considering the proposal seriously.

Oh, and by the way the Prime Minister John Howard says the Federal Government has received specific intelligence about a potential terrorist threat in Australia. At a press conference with Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock by his side, Mr Howard would not give further details, citing operational security reasons.

Interesting that announcement coming just at the time the counter-terrorism legislation is to go before Parliament.

Hang in there, academics, the time may yet come when you'll feel loved and wanted... well... at least wanted one way or another.