Ted Baillieu on Stateline

From The Age Newspaper September 12, 2009, “Baillieu pledges to save VCA”

TED Baillieu is promising to save the Victorian College of the Arts.

In an audacious bid for the arts vote, the Opposition Leader is pledging that if the Coalition wins next year’s state election he will ensure the college has enough money to remain viable.

Mr Baillieu makes the promise – which could cost the state budget up to $6 million a year – in an open letter to students and staff of the college, obtained by The Age.

He also says the controversial 2007 merger with Melbourne University has imperilled the college, and vows that as premier he would be prepared to return it to ”its previous independent and autonomous status”.

‘The Victorian College of the Arts is one of Victoria’s great treasures,” Mr Baillieu writes. ”If we are to remain the arts capital of Australia, we cannot lose the special quality of the VCA.” Read on…

Read the The Age – Liberal Announcement

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