Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-06-05 Daily Xml

Contents

International Students

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:29): Supplementary to the minister: is there any way for South Australia to differentiate itself from other states in terms of the sorts of educational services that it provides?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (14:29): I couldn't hear; did you say differentiate?

The Hon. K.J. Maher: Yes, how do we set ourselves apart?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: One of the very important ways is the post-study work rights that we have secured for South Australia as a result of the great relationship we have with the newly re-elected Morrison federal government, which I am sure in the future will see more and more students choosing South Australia as a destination to get an education and also enter the workforce. Hopefully, some will stay and grow our population.

We have to understand that most people have a very pleasurable memory of their secondary and tertiary education, so even if they don't stay here and create a career and work here, they go back to their original countries as great ambassadors for our great state. So I think that is one clear way we are differentiating ourselves from the rest of the nation.