International Students

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (14:29): My question is to the Minister for Investment and Trade. Can the minister update the house on government action to increase the number of international student enrolments in South Australia?

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Minister for Investment and Trade, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:29): I thank the member for her question because the South Australian government's economic priority number four, 'The knowledge state', includes the objective of increasing the number of international students studying in South Australia from 28,300 in 2013, as a baseline, to 35,500 in 2017.

The SPEAKER: The minister will be seated. For months the house has been presented with the simian behaviour of the member for Finniss who, when the minister rises to give an answer, immediately rises and turns his back on the minister. The member for Finniss will place his backside back on his place or he will be named.

Mr GARDNER: Point of order: it has heretofore been the practice of the house that members not be referred to in any way as animals. I seek your clarification on whether that is still the case, that that is unparliamentary language.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I will give that my earnest consideration. Meanwhile, the member for Finniss will remain in his seat and not continue making a display, as he has for months previous. Minister.

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH: Thank you, Mr Speaker. And 35,500 students remain our target for 2017. International education has become South Australia's fourth largest export, reaching an estimated $1.17 billion in 2015, according to the ABS. This represents a 10 per cent increase over the 2014 calendar year. To the year ending March 2016, South Australia recorded an 8 per cent increase in total international student enrolments across all sectors, from 22,718 to 24,603 students. This gives the state just over a 5.3 per cent share of the Australian international student market. I think, with a lot of effort, we could do better.

South Australia welcomed nearly 8,500 commencing new students between January and March 2016, an increase of 12 per cent over the same period in 2015. There is even better news when we look at the detailed figures. There was big growth right across all education sectors, with a very large growth in school commencements of 24 per cent, and in vocational education students of 26 per cent in the year to March 2016. These students often stay in South Australia after graduating and go on to study at our world-class universities.

The contribution of international students to our economy extends beyond the purely financial benefits of expenditure on education and also has indirect benefits with spend in retail, accommodation and tourism. International students enrich the social and cultural diversity of South Australia and contribute to society through participation in the workforce and their local communities. That is why the state government has committed an additional $5.7 million over four years to StudyAdelaide for the Destination Adelaide plan, which aims to boost South Australia's competitiveness to attract yet more students.

The Destination plan is the key blueprint for international students and it was developed cooperatively with the industry, including universities, schools and VET providers. I can inform the house that the South Australian government has developed a draft action plan that has been sent out to stakeholders for consultation with the aim of significantly increasing our share of the market. The draft action plan proposes to achieve this aim by forming an international students ministerial advisory council to receive stakeholder feedback and drive policy and programs.

Our coverage of the release of the draft action plan for consultation included reference to an aspirational goal over time of seeking to double our share of the international student take. I think that is a big idea and one to which we should aspire, but I make the point that is not a target: the target is 35,500, as stated. It would be nice if things could be accurately reported. What this government does is it has big ideas and it aims to see them put into effect.

There will be a new international education office after the consultation has been concluded. The aim is to encourage a 'team South Australia' approach that has our universities, our schools and our VET providers all working together to grow exports and to grow the number of international students we have in South Australia because that is good for students, good for the education system, good for jobs and investment and good for South Australia.