Page 1083 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 20 March 2013
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In 2011 we listened to Canberrans through the time to talk process, and Canberrans told us that they wanted to see a Canberra which maintains its reputation as a capital in the bush, lowers Canberra’s carbon emissions, sees new development create a more compact city, sees new jobs come through employment opportunities in green and clean knowledge and service industries, builds a sustainable economy, not just as a national capital but as a regional hub, and pursues the continuing excellence within our education system. We listened to what was said in 2011. Indeed, we listened to Canberrans right through 2012 and we will continue that conversation with them.
In relation to tertiary education, the government’s vision is to make Canberra Australia’s learning capital. By creating the ministry for higher education, the government has acknowledged the important contribution higher education makes to our city’s economic, social and cultural fabric. As the home of five separate universities, including Australia’s national university, it goes without saying that the tertiary education sector is intrinsically linked to our economic development, to our diversification and to the vibrancy and energy of our city.
Our universities attract smart students and quality research and contribute to business and industry, innovation and diversity. Canberra has the highest proportion of university graduates in the workforce and also the highest rate of local students continuing on to higher education. And of the 40,000 tertiary students currently enrolled in university here, many have come here from overseas, with many more coming from around the region and around Australia. In 2011-12, the total economic value of international education to the ACT was $321 million, with the contribution of interstate students put at $180 million annually. The economic impact of these students studying in the ACT flows on, of course, to areas like tourism, accommodation, hospitality, retail, transport and other sectors.
To see the capacity of the sector to contribute to the vibrancy and energy of the city, one need only look to the activity and colour that now fills the city west precinct. It is hard to imagine now that only a few years ago there was little more than a car park where we now find the bustle of businesses and residences linking the city and the ANU and injecting new energy into both. What is more, through the development of this site, the government has contributed to the delivery of 1,000 new student dwellings under the national rental affordability scheme, ensuring that students have access to long-term, affordable accommodation. I look forward to working with the tertiary sector over the next few months to agree on priorities in this portfolio and also to working with universities in relation to partnerships, particularly key projects such as the University of Canberra public hospital.
Through the election campaign, the government committed $2 million for StudyCanberra over the next four years to go to providing high-level, coordinated leadership from ACT tertiary education providers, businesses and government and creating a unique, highly valued educational opportunity for national and international students. Supporting the capacity of institutions such as the ANU and the University of Canberra to grow and to continue building social capital as well as the skill level of our workforce is important for Australia’s future and is especially important for the future of the ACT.
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