Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Anning for the supplementary question. I think I have taken the opportunity to outline to the Senate a number of the very positive outcomes from the Australia Awards program, but I would also note it is a condition of the student visa subclass 500 that Australia Awards recipients don't remain in Australia following completion or termination of their scholarship. The Australia Awards recipients are further excluded from applying for return to Australia for anything other than short-term visits for a minimum of two years following completion or termination of their scholarships.

Let me outline some of the most notable activities of the alumni from the Indo-Pacific region alone. The Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Mr Henry Puna, is a recipient of an Australia Award; the Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Disability Forum, Mr Macanawai, from Fiji, similarly; the Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection in Indonesia similarly; and the President of Kiribati similarly. That is just a short example. (Time expired)