❓ The Minister for International Education outlines the Cook Labor government's commitment to diversifying the economy and the resulting increase in international student numbers, highlighting recent successes and investments in the sector.
AnsweredQoN 640Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
640. Ms L.L. BAKER to the Minister for International
Education:
My question is to the member for the
best tourism town in Australia, who also happens to be the Minister for
International Education.
In relation to his recent visit to
Indonesia with the Premier's delegation, could the minister outline to
the house how the Cook Labor government's commitment to diversifying
the economy is resulting in an increased number of international students?
640. Ms L.L. BAKER to the Minister for International
Education:
My question is to the member for the
best tourism town in Australia, who also happens to be the Minister for
International Education.
In relation to his recent visit to
Indonesia with the Premier's delegation, could the minister outline to
the house how the Cook Labor government's commitment to diversifying
the economy is resulting in an increased number of international students?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Maylands.
Just before I answer, I want to correct something. In the debate yesterday
about the Western Australian Institute of Sport, I referred to the appointment
of PricewaterhouseCoopers to conduct the cultural and governance review. That
is not correct; it is actually KPMG. I just correct that.
I also want to bathe in the glory of
Mandurah winning the top regional tourism town, and, of course, bathe in the
glory of the Murray River, with Dwellingup being announced as the top tiny
tourism town. I acknowledge both local governments, the City of Mandurah and
the Shire of Murray, for their commitment to tourism in our region, on
Bindjareb country.
Mrs R.M.J. Clarke : And the
Peel Development Commission!
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Yes,
indeed; we will mention that!
Today, we are talking about
international education. This is a great news story for Western Australia, the Western Australian economy and our education sector
in the state because, as we know, the figures for international education continue to climb, and we continue to
claw back our market share of the number of international students . As
the member highlighted, my recent trip to Indonesia with the Premier, Minister Johnston
and Minister Jarvis continues to build upon a range of connections to our near
neighbours, including an international education sector.
In answer to the member's
question, I am really pleased to highlight that we are seeing a wonderful
increase in recovery. Our numbers now see just under 50 000 international
students enrolled as at June 2023, which is 8 540, or 21 per cent, more than
the previous record high for June of 40 000 in 2020. Western Australia had just
over 24 000 international student commencements as of June 2023—again,
a 36 per cent increase over the previous high record of 18 000 in June 2016.
The trajectory is going very well. This is very good for not only the economy, but also the community of Western Australia,
because it means that young people are studying in Western Australia from all around the world, many of them from our
near neighbours, building great relationships and great cultural
relationships.
We know the strength of the alumni;
we know that international students who have studied in Western Australia are
tremendous alumni and tremendous marketers themselves of the benefits of Western
Australia to international students. We know
that we are considered a very safe place. We know that we are considered to
deliver high-quality education and high-quality vocational education and
training. Those numbers continue to grow, and we will keep on doing that. We
have done that, as the member will be aware—as I look at her there;
yes, there she is—through investment by the McGowan and then the Cook
government. The record investment in international education of over $41 million
over two budgets is delivering bursaries for students who have come to Western Australia,
and delivering accommodation support, and I will announce very shortly the
Premier's scholarships. There is a raft of programs aimed at supporting
students as they arrive in Western Australia to study, and many of them, of
course, work and support our industries like the hospitality industry.
We are also growing in the regions.
We have a regional focus as well. I am pleased that the program within the TAFE
regional international student strategy that is offering $5 000 bursaries is
now seeing numbers increasing. That program is being delivered in Broome,
Geraldton, Northam, Kalgoorlie, Bunbury and Albany, and I am really pleased for
the member for Murray–Wellington and the member for Dawesville, who is
still celebrating that wonderful win. She is out there; I can hear her running
around. I know what she is doing! She is down there on the foreshore waving the
flag! But the Peel campus in Mandurah will commence in semester 1.
This is a great story. This
demonstrates why investment in the international education sector is so
important, but it also underpins the Cook government's and the Premier's
absolute commitment to making sure that we continue to diversify our economy. Whether it is in the creative industries or in
international education, science and innovation , this is all about
diversifying our economy. It is a great news story. I am very pleased to share
it with the member for Maylands and all the members here, and we will keep
working hard to continue to increase those numbers into the future.
Just before I answer, I want to correct something. In the debate yesterday
about the Western Australian Institute of Sport, I referred to the appointment
of PricewaterhouseCoopers to conduct the cultural and governance review. That
is not correct; it is actually KPMG. I just correct that.
I also want to bathe in the glory of
Mandurah winning the top regional tourism town, and, of course, bathe in the
glory of the Murray River, with Dwellingup being announced as the top tiny
tourism town. I acknowledge both local governments, the City of Mandurah and
the Shire of Murray, for their commitment to tourism in our region, on
Bindjareb country.
Mrs R.M.J. Clarke : And the
Peel Development Commission!
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Yes,
indeed; we will mention that!
Today, we are talking about
international education. This is a great news story for Western Australia, the Western Australian economy and our education sector
in the state because, as we know, the figures for international education continue to climb, and we continue to
claw back our market share of the number of international students . As
the member highlighted, my recent trip to Indonesia with the Premier, Minister Johnston
and Minister Jarvis continues to build upon a range of connections to our near
neighbours, including an international education sector.
In answer to the member's
question, I am really pleased to highlight that we are seeing a wonderful
increase in recovery. Our numbers now see just under 50 000 international
students enrolled as at June 2023, which is 8 540, or 21 per cent, more than
the previous record high for June of 40 000 in 2020. Western Australia had just
over 24 000 international student commencements as of June 2023—again,
a 36 per cent increase over the previous high record of 18 000 in June 2016.
The trajectory is going very well. This is very good for not only the economy, but also the community of Western Australia,
because it means that young people are studying in Western Australia from all around the world, many of them from our
near neighbours, building great relationships and great cultural
relationships.
We know the strength of the alumni;
we know that international students who have studied in Western Australia are
tremendous alumni and tremendous marketers themselves of the benefits of Western
Australia to international students. We know
that we are considered a very safe place. We know that we are considered to
deliver high-quality education and high-quality vocational education and
training. Those numbers continue to grow, and we will keep on doing that. We
have done that, as the member will be aware—as I look at her there;
yes, there she is—through investment by the McGowan and then the Cook
government. The record investment in international education of over $41 million
over two budgets is delivering bursaries for students who have come to Western Australia,
and delivering accommodation support, and I will announce very shortly the
Premier's scholarships. There is a raft of programs aimed at supporting
students as they arrive in Western Australia to study, and many of them, of
course, work and support our industries like the hospitality industry.
We are also growing in the regions.
We have a regional focus as well. I am pleased that the program within the TAFE
regional international student strategy that is offering $5 000 bursaries is
now seeing numbers increasing. That program is being delivered in Broome,
Geraldton, Northam, Kalgoorlie, Bunbury and Albany, and I am really pleased for
the member for Murray–Wellington and the member for Dawesville, who is
still celebrating that wonderful win. She is out there; I can hear her running
around. I know what she is doing! She is down there on the foreshore waving the
flag! But the Peel campus in Mandurah will commence in semester 1.
This is a great story. This
demonstrates why investment in the international education sector is so
important, but it also underpins the Cook government's and the Premier's
absolute commitment to making sure that we continue to diversify our economy. Whether it is in the creative industries or in
international education, science and innovation , this is all about
diversifying our economy. It is a great news story. I am very pleased to share
it with the member for Maylands and all the members here, and we will keep
working hard to continue to increase those numbers into the future.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.