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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-09-10 Daily Xml
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International Education Strategy

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (15:01): The minister on his feet said that the Marshall Liberal government has invested more in this sector than ever before but neglected to give the chamber any indication of the amount that has been invested. What is the quantum of this investment and on what programs has the investment been spent? Can the minister also advise how much has this investment been increased over the last, say, two years?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (15:02): I thank the honourable member for his ongoing interest in international education. It became an election commitment that we would increase funding to StudyAdelaide up to $2.5 million across the forward estimates, so that is the funding that we have increased, more than the Labor Party had put in, in my recollection, over the previous 16 years.

Of course, some of the changes around post-study work rights visas and some of the great work that we have done with the federal government around Designated Area Migration Agreements is now making South Australia a really attractive place, not only to get a great education, it is a great experience to come here and it is a great small city that international students love to come to. It is also one where, other than Tasmania, they have an enhanced opportunity of work rights post-graduation.

It is an old Labor psychology that you have to put more and more money into things. We have put $2.5 million a year into StudyAdelaide, which had some policy setting changes. We have said to the international students, 'We are open for business.' Then, of course, on the back of the Premier's great hard work with the international Space Agency, Lot Fourteen and all of the work around defence, we have actually got a wonderful opportunity for careers beyond some of the traditional ones we have had.

Space and some of the tech and start-up activities happening at Lot Fourteen will provide significant opportunities for students from all over the world to secure some great careers here in South Australia. The SmartSat CRC was talked about globally recently. I think there are some opportunities. It is not just about putting extra money in, and we are putting in more than ever before, it is making sure the policy settings are right—$2.5 million a year is the commitment, but it is the policy settings that make our great state attractive to international students.

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