Coalition supports international students

18/08/10

The Coalition supports the statement by the Australian Council for Private Education Providers, TAFE Directors Australia, IDP Education, the International Education
Association of Australia and English Australia, which calls on the major political parties to recognise the valuable contribution that international education plays in
Australia.

Our $18 billion international education industry is currently in limbo due to mismanagement by Labor and Julia Gillard.

Growth in violence against students, bungled changes to the Skilled Occupations List, the collapse of colleges across Australian and the industry Assurance fund running out of money have all occurred on Ms Gillard’s watch.

Labor's failure and incompetence is putting yet another important sector of our economy at risk.

These failings of policy and oversight have threatened the reputation of our education sector and the livelihoods of those involved who have worked hard to build one of Australia’s key foreign income generating industries, with the numbers of students seeking to improve their education in Australia have gone into free-fall.

The Coalition if elected, will work to restore stability and confidence to this vital sector.

We recognise not just the economic benefits of the international education sector for employment and tourism, but also the direct way the Australian community benefits
from the international student market through greater knowledge, understanding and integration with students from other countries and cultures.