George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Minister for the Arts and Sport) Share this | Hansard source

the incomparable Mr Imre Salusinszky. On that occasion, Minister Bishop announced that the Australian government would donate $1.5 million to the endowment of a new chair in Australian literature at an Australian university to be chosen. The roundtable made a number of recommendations, which the government is looking at very closely. Those recommendations included:

The study of literature should form a core element of English courses in schools, introduced in the primary years and developed at secondary level;

Nationally consistent curricula and core standards, which are currently being developed by education ministers, should include a component on Australian literature;

This component should be included in any external assessment;

There should be a comparative investigation of international models of literary education;

Literacy and Numeracy Week should have a greater emphasis on Australian literature;

The recently announced summer schools for teachers—along with other aspects of the Australian Government Quality Teacher Programme—should include an emphasis on Australian literature;

The Australian government should initiate a program of support—