George Miller awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters at the University of New South Wales

MILLER CRITICISES MOOTED
EDUCATION REFORM

15 October 1999

Multi-award-winning Australian film-maker George Miller today described the Federal Government's proposal to deregulate higher education as the educational equivalent of a "power blackout and a train smash."


Miller made the comments in a speech at a ceremony awarding him an Honorary Doctorate of Letters at the University of New South Wales - the University's highest honour.


"Universities need to remain playgrounds of ideas. Because it's those playful, accidental interactions of ideas that always make for the most exciting times," Dr Miller said.


"The economic rationalists in Canberra who're trying to tinker with the education system by deregulating student fees and handing it over to market forces run the great risk of ruining the culture and economy of universities and causing the educational equivalent of a power blackout and a train smash."


A UNSW medical graduate in 1971, Miller has won 25 Australian Film Industry awards and has been nominated for two Academy Awards. He was awarded an Honorary Doctoral degree at his alma mater for his distinguished contribution to film.


Dr George Miller, who is also a medical doctor, went on to give a free public lecture at UNSW on Tuesday, October 26.

In his talk, Dr Miller will used his unique perspective as both a man of science and a successful creative artist to look at the way the arts and sciences are changing and blending at the end of the millennium.


UNSW graduate, entertainer, activist, and conservationist Peter Garrett was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters on the same day, for his distinguished contributions to music and conservation.

From,

http://www.unsw.edu.au/news/pad/articles/1999/oct/142millercriticises.html