International Students

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (14:49): My question is directed to the Minister for Investment and Trade. What is the expected impact of the accommodation guarantee for international students studying 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) (14:49): I thank the member for Ashford for her question because international education is South Australia's number one service export, with the latest ABS statistics showing a 12.5 per cent increase in value in 2016 to $1.13 billion. The government aims to have 35,500 international students starting here by the end of this year—a target we're on track to achieve.

To put the number in perspective, the number of international students living in Adelaide is more than the population of Mount Gambier, Mount Barker or Whyalla. It's a city within a city. The growth in the value and volume of international education services as an export is another reason why official figures from the ABS show that South Australia is exporting more than ever, with total exports reaching a new high of around $15 billion in the 12 months to December 2016.

I know that such good economic news is difficult for those opposite to understand, but the facts are that we are doing well for those who can accurately read the facts and the statistics in the ABS. Despite enormous global headwinds in traditional manufacturing and resources sectors, we are resisting the doom and gloom predicted by those opposite. The end of the world is not nigh. In fact, the future looks bright. The leader told us all in November 2015 that 'double-digit unemployment is inevitable'—'inevitable', he said.

Mr GARDNER: Point of order: by going down this path, the minister is clearly debating in contravention of standing order 98.

The SPEAKER: The question was about the impact of the accommodation guarantee for international students.

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH: Thank you, Mr Speaker. It's very important for jobs. Increases in international student numbers have in fact helped across a range of sectors, as have our investment attraction initiatives that have delivered more than $1 billion of capital investment and around 5,200 jobs, and education is a part of that. That is why I want to talk about the accommodation guarantee to continue that upward trend in international students. That guarantee is there to ensure that there is sufficient supply of quality accommodation that is easily accessible to students.

A new website, the Adelaide Student Housing website, was launched last month and will enable students to better access student accommodation. Students can search for accommodation that suits their requirements through that website developed by the government and StudyAdelaide. The website lists purpose-built student accommodation offerings by property type, location and campus. It also provides links to further information on quality private rental accommodation at competitive rates close to the city fringe and surrounding university campuses.

The accommodation offer guarantee demonstrates that supply, quality and access distinguish South Australia as the only state with an accommodation offer guarantee for international students that is working well. This is another step in our ongoing improvement of the Adelaide offering to international students. It's another reason why the latest services exports value figures for South Australia for the 2016 calendar year just released show an 11 per cent increase to $2.657 billion that services exports above the national average of 9 per cent.

South Australia is batting above the national level of performance, and that's why 72,000 jobs in South Australia are related directly to selling our goods and services—72,000 meals on the table every night—and that's why the government's export programs concentrate on sectors that create more jobs. To give you an example, Mr Speaker, the South Australian Chinese students were a focus of the recent China business mission. The mission involved study destination and StudyAdelaide, and the Amazing Ambassador campaign. There were 150 million views of this campaign and more than 7,400 applicants. That's the strength of interest in the South Australian offering.

In the trade and international engagement arena, South Australia's success is further proof that our efforts to prove wrong the double-digit doomsayers are working. We have higher aims, and we are getting on with the job.

Mr Knoll interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is warned.