History repeats itself, often with a sense of irony only those with long memories can fully appreciate. In a move evocative of a plot twist in a rather predictable novel, the Australian government is resurrecting a centralised body much like the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) it once enthusiastically dismantled. This time, they promise it will be better, shinier, and more centralised, with control over university admissions, funding, and maybe even what brand of pencils academics can use.