Lighten Gillards Load: PM Should Listen to Expert

Former University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Don Aitkin today added his voice to the growing body of opinion that Julia Gillard has too much on her plate, and should have her workload lightened.

Writing in today's Financial Review, Professor Aitkin concludes that "it doesn't seem to me that the present allocation of roles delivers much, so a different one is worth thinking about."

Professor Aitkin also reminds us that in her role as Deputy Prime Minister to our frequent flying PM, "she is rather busy. She has given more than 40 radio, television and doorstep interviews in the past two months. In that period, more than 100 media releases have been issued in her name. Not many of them concern higher education or vocational education and most of those relating to schools come under the 'building the education revolution' label."

"Julia Gillard is making a name for herself in the Education sector as someone who promises the world, but who doesn't deliver,"" said Shadow Education Minister Christopher Pyne.

Professor Aitkin's article comes hot on the heels of scathing commentaries last week from Professor Ross Fitzgerald, and former Labor Leader Mark Latham.

"To listen to the Federal Minister, Julia Gillard, talk about schooling is to realise she is clueless about what needs to be done," wrote Mark Latham last week.

Latham also described a promise to close failed schools within " the Rudd government's so-called education revolution" as "typical of its style: using populist rhetoric to control the daily media agenda but failing to follow through with detailed plans. ... The policy itself is a sham.

Professor Ross Fitzgerald delivered his critique of Julia Gillard on Monday, in which he pointed out that the delivery of Gillard's supposedly 'revolutionary' educational packages has been far from smooth. This indicates a failure in her capacity to match action to her lofty rhetoric. He went on to suggest that Australia deserves a full-time Education Minister.

It is time for Julia Gillard to swallow her pride and admit that as Deputy Prime Minister to our travel-happy PM, she only has the time and capacity to take on one portfolio.

Australia deserves better than a part-time Education Minister.