Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for that question and acknowledge her keen interest in improving educational outcomes for our children, a passion that she has brought to this place with some 20 years experience as an educator. When we came to government, we found that there had been no improvement in the very poor school attendance rates in most remote Indigenous communities. In fact, we found that, from 2007, attendance was dropping in many places. While some may wash their hands and say this is a state and territory government responsibility, which it is, it was clear that a new approach was needed, so this government acted and acted decisively.

In 2014 the government introduced the Remote School Attendance Strategy to improve school attendance. School attendance officers are now operating in 73 schools, in 69 communities, and I am pleased to report that, while we still have a long way to go, we are making real progress. In the Northern Territory, attendance rates at government schools have increased. For example, the attendance rates at both Ngukurr and Alekarenge schools rose by 15 per cent from term 2 in 2013 to term 2 in 2015. In Senator Lindgren's home state of Queensland, government asked our schools, and the number of children attending school increased by 12 per cent over the same period of time. We have all seen a number of individual schools in Western Australia and South Australia with large increases. This government is committed to the challenge of making sure children go to school and building on the progress that has already been made. That is why I have recently announced an additional $80 million to extend the Remote School Attendance Strategy for a further three years, until the end of 2018.