Treasury Secretary Ken Henry to Chair the Joint Commonwealth and State Working Group on Education. (December 21, 2007)

The setting up under the banner of COAG of the working groups to oversee the implementation of specific reform programs are, we are told, being directed by the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, to get results.

Treasury Secretary, economist Ken Henry, has been chosen to chair the joint commonwealth and state working group on education.

So far no details of the working group's brief have been made public. On the assumption that it may include aspects from preschool to postdoctoral research, Dr Henry and his working group would appear to have been set a daunting task.

The fear is the outcome may recall Horace's observation Parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus -- the mountains will give birth to a bizarre mouse.