Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade and as deputy chair of the trade subcommittee, I present the committee's report entitled Inquiry into Australia's tourism and international education sectors 'quality and integrity—the quest for sustainable growth': interim report into international education.

Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e).

by leave—With 29 recommendations, the report explores the future of Australia's international education sector post COVID-19 as well as options for sustainable growth in this sector. It's important to note, though, that we are not out of COVID-19, even if we hope we are. COVID-19 is still very much with us, but we move on, and we thank everyone in that regard for what they've done to get the economy back up and running to ensure that we do what we can. That certainly comes down to the sectors to which we spoke—tourism and the international education system—during these inquiries, and I thank all members for their participation.

This is an interim report, and it focuses on the international education aspect of the overall inquiry. It lays the foundation for the broader consideration and discussion of the significant intersection existing between international education and tourism in modern Australia. In 2019, international students contributed $40.3 billion to the Australian economy, including through education related travel, tuition fees and living expenses. The pandemic saw this number almost halve to $22½ billion in 2021. Since international borders reopened in December 2021, there have been gradual signs of recovery towards pre-pandemic levels of enrolments and commencements, and that's a good thing. It's a fantastic thing, in fact.

Beyond its contribution to the Australian economy, international education is an important soft-power initiative. Its link to good and necessary diplomacy cannot be understated, and I'm sure the minister at the table would very much back me up on that.

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