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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-11-09 Daily Xml
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INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION SECTOR

Mr KENYON (Newland) (14:54): My question is to the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education. Can the minister inform the house about South Australia's latest performance in the international education sector?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:54): I would like to thank the honourable member for Newland for his important question. I am glad to inform the house that, according to the latest commonwealth data, South Australia's international education sector continued to outperform the other states over the past 12 months. South Australia recorded 3.7 per cent growth in the sector to the end of September this year compared to a drop in the national growth of 0.9 per cent.

The latest available Education Adelaide update shows 32,470 student enrolments up until the end of September this year. We are on track to match—if not exceed—last year's figure of just under 34,000 students by the end of the year. We have seen a 15.5 per cent jump in overseas students enrolling in VET courses in South Australia in the 12 months to the end of September this year, as well as an increase of 7.5 per cent taking up higher education courses. Our current national market share has also grown at 5.6 per cent compared to 5.4 per cent at the same time last year.

The figures show that international students continue to be attracted to South Australia because of our quality of education, the low cost of living and our safe and welcoming environment, but there are challenges ahead. I am cautiously welcoming this information given the ever-increasing potential for difficulties in the international student market—

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I warn the member for Unley for the second time.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: We are facing a rising Australian dollar, increased global competition and changes to the commonwealth's visa policy, all of which have made it more difficult for some students to come and study in Australia.

Changes to the Skilled Migration List are also limiting opportunities for students to stay and work in Australia after they have graduated. However, international education remains our number one service industry and currently our fourth largest export industry. The international education sector generated $990 million for our economy last financial year (up from $893 million in 2008-09) and employed more than 6,500 people.

We want international students studying in Adelaide to have an outstanding experience when they come here to live and work. That is why the South Australian government is committed to fulfilling a duty of care to those students living so far away from home and continuing to offer high-quality education and training in a safe and supportive environment.

Earlier this month, I released a draft bill for public consultation aimed at developing a stronger compliance system for VET providers in South Australia, offering training to international students, supported by tougher civil and criminal sanctions.

The legislation, the Training and Skills Development (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill, creates a tougher regulatory system, providing best practice standards and greater protection for international students coming to South Australia to study. The legislation, which will apply across the entire VET sector in South Australia, proposes harsher penalties for compliance breaches, including a twentyfold increase in the maximum fine from $5,000 to $100,000 for registered organisations, and $20,000 for individual operators. I hope to introduce this bill into the house in the very near future.

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