UQ supports exciting new public issues forum based in Brisbane
The University of Queensland is the primary sponsor of a new public issues forum which will give Brisbane and Queensland a national centre for independent, non-partisan discussion of public issues.
Officially launched on March 2 at a special function at Brisbane Customs House, The Brisbane Institute is dedicated to stimulating open discussion and debate on a wide range of topical matters.
State and local government leaders from both sides of politics, leading academics and respected members of the Queensland business community have unanimously welcomed its advent.
Leading Australian intellectual Dr Peter Botsman has been appointed a professor of the University of Queensland and has been seconded to a five-year position as foundation executive director of the Brisbane Institute.
The University of Queensland is the primary sponsor of the Institute. Other key sponsors include Queensland Newspapers and the Brisbane City Council.
Brisbane Customs House, the University of Queensland's city base, will be used as a major venue to conduct many public events organised by the Institute.
University Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay has been closely involved in inaugurating the concept of The Brisbane Institute.
In some of his first speeches to leading members of the Brisbane community, at the Customs House in March and April 1996, Professor Hay advocated the need for an institute to set an independent agenda for debate on key issues of public interest, and recognised its potentially important contribution to invigorating intellectual life.
He said the Institute would provide an independent forum in which opinion leaders and opinion makers could explore serious intellectual issues.
"It will actively link debate on matters of historical, current and future concern to arts, cultural and intellectual life," Professor Hay said.
"It will generate debate and critical analysis independent of political correctness or leanings."
A board has been formed comprising high-profile, highly qualified representatives from business, academe and the arts. The board is chaired by company director and former CEO of Castlemaine Perkins Ray Weekes.
Mr Weekes said the arrival of The Brisbane Institute constituted a significant milestone in the evolution of Brisbane.
"It's indicative of how Brisbane has well and truly shrugged off the shackles of its bygone reputation and truly come of age as a dynamic, cosmopolitan city," he said.
"We have assembled a first-class board, tapped into a vein of real enthusiasm among the business, arts and academic communities, and will be reaching the broadest possible membership base.
"I see The Brisbane Institute as exploring the issues that really matter and as adding immensely to the 'theatre' of Brisbane and the freshness and vibrancy of our cultural scene. It's probably somewhat overdue, but certainly a welcome and very exciting development."
Brisbane Lord Mayor Jim Soorley said, "We spend a great deal of time managing issues and not enough considering and debating ideas. The Brisbane Institute must be established so that we, as a community, can tap, consider and respond to the reservoir of ideas that exists. There is no doubt that Brisbane will benefit from the stimulus provided by The Brisbane Institute."
The Brisbane Institute has attracted major sponsorship from the University of Queensland, and significant support from organisations of the calibre of Queensland Newspapers, the Brisbane City Council, Queensland Rail and the State Government. Numerous other businesses, from a range of industries, have also welcomed its introduction and pledged support.
Membership is available by contacting the Brisbane Institute, telephone 07 3220-2198.
Further information:
Professor Peter Botsman, Executive Director, (07) 3220-2198
UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay, telephone (07) 3365-1300
About the University of Queensland:
Major sponsor of The Brisbane Institute
The Brisbane Institute's major sponsor is the University of Queensland, named Australia's 1998-1999 University of the Year by the Good Universities Guides for outstanding outcomes for graduates.
As Queensland's only comprehensive, research-intensive university, and one of the few in Australia, the University of Queensland has a central role in the intellectual life of the state, the development of new knowledge and ideas, debate associated with new techniques and technologies, and in professional education. As an institution committed to informing public debate, and providing a source of independent expert information and critical comment, the University encourages its staff to communicate through the media and participate in community discussion.
The University's first-class programs attract most of the top band of school leavers in Queensland, and highly-qualified applicants from interstate and 80 overseas countries. Established in 1910, the University has 28,500 students, among them 2000 international students. The University has produced more than 100,000 graduates, including Australian business leaders, a Nobel Laureate, most Queensland Rhodes Scholars and holders of important public offices such as Governor-General, Governor, Premier and Chief Justice.
The University is one of only three Australian members of Universitas 21, an elite global alliance of up to 20 comprehensive research-intensive universities committed to maintaining world-best practice through international benchmarking. More than 200 high quality courses, including professional degrees such as business, commerce, engineering and medicine and general degrees, are offered through 59 departments and schools.
The University has recorded the highest employment rate for new graduates under 25 years for three of the past four years, and one of the nation's highest rates of graduates progressing to postgraduate studies. The University has 21 percent of students in postgraduate studies; graduates one of the highest number of PhD students each year of any Australian university; attracts Australia's highest level of industry- related research; is one of Australia's top two overall in attracting competitive research funding; and has internationally licensed technology. The University also won three 1998 Australian Awards for University Teaching - the most by any Australian university.
The main University campus is at St Lucia on a splendid 114 hectare site bounded by the Brisbane River on three sides, close to the Brisbane city centre. The University's 1068 hectare Gatton College campus is 80 kilometres west of Brisbane and this year the University opened a high technology campus at Ipswich, 43 kilometres west of Brisbane. Other research and teaching facilities in the State include medical and dental schools, agricultural and veterinary science farms, an experimental mine, seismograph and marine research stations. The University and CSIRO will develop a $100 million biological research facility - Australia's largest - to be completed on the St Lucia campus by 2002.
The restored Brisbane Customs House, the venue for many Brisbane Institute functions, is the University's city base.
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