Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, Senator Evans. Could you advise the Senate on how the Gillard government's record of investment in higher education and skills is delivering real outcomes right across Australia, especially in our regions, unlike the previous Howard government?

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Sterle for his question. The Gillard Labor government has made education and skilling of our workforce its major priority since coming to government. We have invested in education and skills right across the board, from early learning right through to postgraduate study. What that is about is making sure that every person in Australia has the chance to maximise their potential and maximise their attributes to be able to get a quality education that allows them to fulfil those talents, but also to contribute to the economy by maximising their capacity to contribute to the nation. We know that those people with higher levels of skills and education have higher incomes, better health and better life outcomes more generally. This government is investing in tertiary education and skills right across the country.

There are some who would want to argue that our expansion of access to higher education is somehow lowering quality when, in fact, what we are doing is increasing access. What we are seeing in regions of Australia where young people never got the chance to go to university is that those with the capability have been allowed access. They are getting support and regional institutions are being supported to allow young people who have been discriminated against for many years because of where they live, to have access to higher education. There are 16,000 more students in regional tertiary education as a result of this government. We have also seen a 56 per cent increase in funding under this government for those regional institutions. This week I announced further investment in four regional universities to make sure that young people from across the country are getting the opportunity to gain higher skills and higher education. (Time expired)

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a supplementary question. Is the minister aware of any community support for the government's record investments in education for Australia's future economic prosperity, unlike what we saw in the 12 years of the Howard Liberal government?

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is broad based support for this government's investments in education and it is not just about those involved in education; it is from business, from trade unions, from local governments. People understand what the investment in education means for their communities. That is why the programs and the investment this government is making are being supported throughout the community. People know the differences they are making in people's lives. You can meet young Indigenous people, young people from lower socioeconomic areas and young people from rural and regional areas who are getting opportunities they never would have got before. More than 150,000 more students are at university and record numbers are in training because they are getting access.

Senator Nash interjecting—

Senator Nash, you may interject but have a look at this government's record in regional education. What did the Nats do in the Howard government? Nothing, and it is to your shame. (Time expired)

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a further supplementary question. I must say I am absolutely gobsmacked. It is the first time I have ever heard this lot—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Sterle, ask the question.

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

involved in anything to do with education. This is my second supplementary question: can the minister advise the Senate on how state government budget cuts, particularly in those moribund states with a Liberal government like Queensland under the Newman regime and New South Wales under the Farrell regime, could put at risk the Gillard government's record investment in education and skills?

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

While the Commonwealth government is investing heavily at record levels in higher education and skills, unfortunately, we have seen a reduction in commitment to training and skills development in three states, Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales. It is not just about their politics—the Western Australian government and the South Australian government are keeping up their level of effort—what we are seeing in Victoria and New South Wales and Queensland is conservative governments closing facilities, closing courses, sacking staff and reducing opportunities for young Australians to get skills that will lead them into better jobs. The failure to maintain investment in those states is undermining the opportunities for those young people. It is undermining their capacity to go on to further tertiary education, and those states have to be held accountable for the damage the cuts are doing to the skilling and education of young Australians. (Time expired)

Mr President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper until at least February next year.