INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Ms CICCARELLO (Norwood) (14:37): My question is to the Premier. Given the severity of the global financial crisis, how will its impact affect our state's growing international student industry?

Mr Hamilton-Smith interjecting:

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:38): There is no place like Frome!

The Hon. P.F. Conlon: He was on that red carpet with his ruby slippers, clicking them together!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: It must have been good on the red carpet with Nicole Kidman. Imagine going to New York and asking to be on the red carpet! It is really sad.

The SPEAKER: Order! That remark was not to the substance of the question. I invite all members to calm themselves.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: The Leader of the Opposition says that he awaits with bated breath; we know that he does because he is in desperate search of bad news—and I am going to disappoint him.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier is now debating.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: It is true that the global financial crisis is having an adverse affect on international student figures in other parts of Australia. We were very concerned about what the impact would be here in South Australia. However, this state is well positioned to avoid such a downturn. As reported by The Advertiser in its 20 January 2009 article, entitled 'Student Foreign Legion':

South Australia is expected to host a record 30,000 international students by the end of the year, defying forecasts of falling numbers interstate.

While foreign students are reportedly pulling out of institutions interstate, the number enrolling in South Australia is outstripping the national rate.

These statements are evidenced by figures from Australian Education International that show a 29.2 per cent increase in the number of international students commencing their studies in South Australia from January to November 2008 compared with a national average of 24.8 per cent. The fact that 16,000 new students came to Adelaide last year, raising our total number of foreign students to 27,748, clearly indicates that we are continuing to attract large numbers.

I want to compare that 30,000 figure that the member said he was waiting for with bated breath with when the opposition was in government. In 1998 there were 5,584 foreign students, and now it is 30,000 foreign students. It is now our fourth biggest export. Let me just explain what those foreign students do. They come here and spend money in this town and in our state, and that is incredibly good for business and development in South Australia, employing thousands of people. So it would be great one day to hear something that the opposition actually supports.