Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Hansard source

To take advantage of the opportunities provided by the China FTA and the FTAs with Korea and Japan, and via other growing international education markets, we are consulting extensively on the draft national strategy for international education. Just yesterday we published more than 100 submissions on that draft strategy that warmly welcome the fact that the government is applying this shared national strategy that brings together all of the stakeholders. Tomorrow around 100 of those stakeholders from all states and territories will come together here in Parliament House for a round table on international education to further the work on this national strategy.

The government has appointed a coordinating council on international education to finalise the strategy and an implementation plan. The coordinating council includes six ministers from education, immigration, foreign affairs and trade, as well as six experts from diverse backgrounds. It is all about not only protecting but growing a sector that is worth $17 billion at present and that supports 130,00 Australian jobs.