More Aussies than ever before are choosing to holiday at home and are spending record amounts across the country, according to the latest National Visitor Survey.
The results show visitor spending by Australians skyrocketed to a record $72.7 billion, an increase of 13 per cent, while Australians took a record 105.6 million domestic overnight trips during 2018, an increase of nine per cent.
Federal Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham said these results showed Australia’s tourism industry continued to go from strength-to-strength.
“Tourism is booming across Australia with every state seeing strong increases in domestic visitor numbers as well as record spending,” Minister Birmingham said.
“The boom in domestic tourism is another vote of confidence in the Australian economy and has been accompanied by thriving international visitation of 8.5 million visitors to Australia last year.
“More Aussies holidaying at home teamed with more international visitors and record spending is a great boost for Australian businesses, helping to create more jobs and contributing to a stronger economy.
“Our Liberal National Government plan to create a further 1.25 million jobs is underpinned by investment in strategic areas of economic growth, such as our tourism industry that we are supporting with record investment in infrastructure and marketing.
“Australians are continuing to head off the beaten track, preferring to turn to nature and the great outdoors for their holidays. Trips involving nature-based activities and visits to national parks continued to grow at a faster rate than visits to the beach.
“Eco-tourism is on the rise in Australia, and it’s not surprising given our world-class national parks, unique wildlife and diversity of nature-based experiences on offer.”
Minister Birmingham said these results coincided with the release of a new Tourism Australia video to help attract more working holiday makers to Australia.
“Working holiday makers have a tendency to holiday in regional areas and inject over $3 billion into our economy each year,” Minister Birmingham said.
“The more working holiday makers we can attract to Australia, the more we can support our farmers and boost regional tourism.
“They help fill short-term workforce shortages and they basically spend every dollar they earn while in Australia, plus the savings they brought here, boosting regional economies and creating more jobs for Australians.
“This new campaign video launched today will run through the United Kingdom, France and Germany and will help promote Australia as a top destination for working holiday makers.
“We’re experiencing a real purple patch when it comes to tourism and that’s why the Liberal-National Government continues to deliver record funding to Tourism Australia for cutting-edge campaigns such as this one so we can continue growing this booming industry.”
Tourism Australia’s new campaign video can be downloaded at here and the National Visitor Survey results are available from https://www.tra.gov.au/Domestic/domestic-tourism-r…
Month: April 2019
Protection for Hooded Plover Chicks
A re-elected Morrison Government will invest up to $100,000 in recovery programs for the Hooded Plover.
Minister for the Environment Melissa Price said the funding will build on existing work to protect Plover nests and increase the rate of chick survival.
“The Hooded Plover is one of 20 priority bird species under the Threatened Species Strategy and working through Birdlife Australia, this funding will build on nest protection, monitoring and other recovery actions,” she said.
“Activities will take place across the full nesting range of the Hooded Plover in Victoria and South Australia.”
The funding will be provided from the Morrison Government’s $100 million Environment Restoration Fund, announced in the 2019-20 Budget.
The Environment Restoration Fund will have three key priority areas: protecting threatened and migratory species and their habitats; improving Australia’s coasts, oceans and waterways; and increasing recycling of waste.
“This Fund will invest in protecting threatened and migratory species and their habitats, making a difference to save species from extinction by restoring habitat, reducing threats like feral species, supporting captive-breeding programs, and creating safe havens for species at risk,” Minister Price said.
The Environment Restoration Fund builds on our $1 billion investment through the National Landcare Program and complements the Communities Environment Program.
The 2019-20 Budget includes a $3.8 billion investment in a better environment, including a $3.5 billion Climate Solutions Package.
Start-ups help catapult Smart City
Civic Park will feature an illuminated night-time attraction next month thanks to a City of Newcastle project that will see a local technology start-up deliver an interactive light display in the popular CBD park.
The new Luna light display, which will be tested from May 6-10 during the Hunter Innovation Festival, will form part of the “Catapult” trial to harness the potential of start-ups to achieve several strategic Smart City objectives.
Luna’s illuminated night-time display will activate Civic Park after dark
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Newcastle was the perfect testing ground for companies – like Luna – looking to launch ideas in a progressive and emerging Smart City landscape.
“Creative lighting adds a whole new layer of interest to the public domain and we’re delighted to be able to support Luna to test their technology for the first time in a real-world environment,” the Lord Mayor said.
“What is great about Luna is that it allows people to become active participants in the light display, rather than just passive spectators, by giving them the ability to change the colour and intensity of the lights.
“In our increasingly digital age, cities need to look towards new approaches, innovative technologies and smart infrastructure to create an environment that supports economic growth and diversification.
“So, we’ve called upon the visionary ambitions of four very exciting new companies to help achieve that.”
An online mapping platform called Accessibility in the City joins Luna as part of the Catapult trial.
When launched later this year, Accessibility in the City will offer users verified information about where to locate accessible features, such as disabled parking and toilets, and help them navigate busy, cluttered and visually oriented environments.
Accessibility in the City founder Chad Ramage
Both companies have the capabilities to better understand resource utilisation, and in turn, make improvements to help the City reduce its energy costs.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes welcomed the opportunity for Newcastle to be used as a testing ground.
“The city has been working hard with our stakeholders over a number of years to establish Newcastle and the Hunter as an internationally recognised centre for technology innovation,” Councillor Nelmes said.
“Cities around the world are facing the challenge of improving liveability for their residents while reducing resource consumption, and the companies selected as part of this trial will to help us tackle these challenges head on.
“Our award-winning Smart City Strategy includes clear objectives around making our buildings more energy efficient, around piloting inclusive smart technology to increase equity of access to the city, and around deploying interactive technologies into the public domain to create active and safe places of interest and discovery.
“The Catapult program is one of the many ways that we are delivering on our strategy and our vision to be a smart, liveable and sustainable global city.”
The Catapult program is part of the $13 million Smart Moves Newcastle project, which received $5 million through the Australian Government’s Smart Cities and Suburbs program in 2017.
On Country Camps to Help Heal the Hurt of WA's Stolen Generations
The Morrison Government will provide $150,000 for Back to Country Cultural Healing Bush Camps, part of a significant project to support members of the Stolen Generations and their families in Western Australia.
The funding will enable the Sister Kate’s Home Kids Aboriginal Corporation to conduct three camps – for men, women and families – to improve mental and social wellbeing and help counter intergenerational trauma and feelings of disempowerment.
“The road that hundreds of Sister Kate’s ‘Homees’ and thousands of their fellow Stolen Generations have travelled has been challenging and often painful,” said Indigenous Health Minister Ken Wyatt AM.
“However, this project represents an exciting opportunity to walk and work together to reinforce our identity, to heal and to share our cultural strength with the broader community.
“While the camps will be conducted at a variety of locations, the main focus will be on a special Place of Healing, a pristine bush block within Perth’s metropolitan area.”
Minister Wyatt said renewing connections with country and totems and sharing traditions was fundamental to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“It is important to celebrate the power of knowledge and wisdom and the strength and resilience of our people, by handing on stories and harnessing the spirit within and around us,” he said.
“Noongar country, where the camps will be held, is famous for its wildflowers and these play a special role in traditional cultural healing practices.”
Sister Kate’s Home Kids Aboriginal Corporation Chair Glenn Pearson said the organisation had worked for ten years on the healing project.
“It will be wonderful to hold several cultural healing bush camps on the land we are going to build our Place of Healing on,” Mr Pearson said.
“The site played a major role in the lives of the Sister Kate’s Home Kids in their younger years and to be able to walk in the footsteps of childhood brings a sense of place, of belonging and of wellbeing.”
Sister Kate’s Homee Cheryl Phillips said: “We just loved being able to get away from the restrictive life that we lived at the Home, by running across the road to the bush block.
“Now, as adults, we have an opportunity to make something doubly meaningful, by building the Place of Healing on the land that will provide healing for everyone.”
To ensure the messages from the camps and Place of Healing reach a wider audience, a documentary is being made to share people’s experiences and encourage other community members to participate in future cultural healing camps.
The Morrison Government is committed to continuing to work with families, communities, local organisations and government groups to improve Indigenous people’s health and to build ever stronger families and communities.
The Morrison Government has committed $4.1 billion over four years to work together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to improve health.
Sister Kate’s was a Stolen Generations children’s institution that originated in 1934.
The funding will enable the Sister Kate’s Home Kids Aboriginal Corporation to conduct three camps – for men, women and families – to improve mental and social wellbeing and help counter intergenerational trauma and feelings of disempowerment.
“The road that hundreds of Sister Kate’s ‘Homees’ and thousands of their fellow Stolen Generations have travelled has been challenging and often painful,” said Indigenous Health Minister Ken Wyatt AM.
“However, this project represents an exciting opportunity to walk and work together to reinforce our identity, to heal and to share our cultural strength with the broader community.
“While the camps will be conducted at a variety of locations, the main focus will be on a special Place of Healing, a pristine bush block within Perth’s metropolitan area.”
Minister Wyatt said renewing connections with country and totems and sharing traditions was fundamental to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“It is important to celebrate the power of knowledge and wisdom and the strength and resilience of our people, by handing on stories and harnessing the spirit within and around us,” he said.
“Noongar country, where the camps will be held, is famous for its wildflowers and these play a special role in traditional cultural healing practices.”
Sister Kate’s Home Kids Aboriginal Corporation Chair Glenn Pearson said the organisation had worked for ten years on the healing project.
“It will be wonderful to hold several cultural healing bush camps on the land we are going to build our Place of Healing on,” Mr Pearson said.
“The site played a major role in the lives of the Sister Kate’s Home Kids in their younger years and to be able to walk in the footsteps of childhood brings a sense of place, of belonging and of wellbeing.”
Sister Kate’s Homee Cheryl Phillips said: “We just loved being able to get away from the restrictive life that we lived at the Home, by running across the road to the bush block.
“Now, as adults, we have an opportunity to make something doubly meaningful, by building the Place of Healing on the land that will provide healing for everyone.”
To ensure the messages from the camps and Place of Healing reach a wider audience, a documentary is being made to share people’s experiences and encourage other community members to participate in future cultural healing camps.
The Morrison Government is committed to continuing to work with families, communities, local organisations and government groups to improve Indigenous people’s health and to build ever stronger families and communities.
The Morrison Government has committed $4.1 billion over four years to work together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to improve health.
Sister Kate’s was a Stolen Generations children’s institution that originated in 1934.
Keeping Australians Safe on our Roads
Keeping all drivers safe on our roads will continue to be a key priority of a re-elected Morrison Government, with a new $12 million package providing extra road safety measures.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said nothing was more important than keeping Australians safe.
“Easter is a busy time on our roads with many Australians taking the opportunity to spend time with loved ones. But I urge everyone to slow down, obey road rules and get to their destination safely,” Mr Morrison said.
“Any life lost on our roads is one too many. Too many of us have had to deal with the loss of a family member or friend at some stage and it is a harrowing experience.
“Our $12 million package will upgrade 175 popular Driver Reviver sites across Australia, increase assistance for learner drivers and their parents and roll out a new programme to educate caravan and campervan drivers.”
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said while the Liberal and Nationals’ record investment in safer roads was seeing dividends, there is more to do at a local level.
“Our record investment into safer roads has saved lives, but there are more blackspots to be fixed, bridges to be upgraded and roads to be sealed,” Mr McCormack said.
“We want to tackle the road toll at a local level, town by town.
“A plan of this magnitude can only be achieved through the Liberal and Nationals’ strong economic management.”
To help with safer driving options and to combat driver fatigue, a re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government will invest:
- $8 million in capped grants to help upgrade the 175 existing Driver Reviver locations nationwide to improve existing sites and support the establishment of new sites;
- $1.2 million over four years to support the Driver Reviver programme to improve awareness of sites and for the engagement of volunteers;
- $1 million over four years to partner with industry to develop and promote programmes to better educate caravan, campervan and motorhome drivers on safety awareness;
- Develop a nationally consistent approach to new and improved pullover bays with a focus on single lane highways, popular tourist routes and off-network roads; and
- $1.8 million to support a one-year pilot of the Australian Safety Foundation’s Digital Road Safety Passport for Schools for Year 9 students, which will cover the foundations of road safety, including getting to and from school safely.
Under the Liberal and Nationals Government, record funding will continue to be invested into road infrastructure to support new and upgraded major highways, as well as critical maintenance on local roads.
Complementing these investments will be a range of support measures to address driver fatigue as part of the Coalition’s plan for road safety.
These new initiatives follow recent road safety announcements made in the 2019-20 Budget including:
- An additional $1.1 billion for the Roads to Recovery programme;
- An additional $550 million for the Black Spot Program;
- An additional $275 million for the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program
- An additional $275 million for the Bridges Renewal Program;
- $12 million for a Road Safety Innovation Fund to support road safety research and the development of new road safety technologies and products;
- An additional $6 million for the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative to fund projects that identify opportunities to improve heavy vehicle safety;
- $5.9 million for the establishment of the Office of Road Safety to facilitate a greater coordination and leadership role for the Government in road safety;
- An additional $8 million to secure the Keys2Drive program for the next four years;
- $4 million to support road safety awareness, education and collaborative initiatives with nationally focused road organisations that promote road safety; and
- $2.6 million for the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) to assist local governments to assess their road asset management and maintenance requirements with a focus on regional areas.
We can make these critically important investments without raises taxes, because we have a plan for a stronger economy.
In contrast, Labor have a plan for $387 billion in new taxes that will only weaken our economy.
Only the Liberal and Nationals have a plan for a stronger economy, which will create jobs and guarantee the essential infrastructure and services that Australians need and rely on.
Shorten Short on Detail
Yesterday, Bill Shorten’s repeated failure to come clean on the cost of Labor’s economy-wrecking emissions target was finally explained.
Bill Shorten and Labor have resorted to relying on four-year old modelling done by Professor Warwick McKibbin to detail the cost of their policy, including claiming that there will be “no additional cost” to meet Labor’s 45% target relative to the Coalition’s 26% target.
This is despite Labor needing 1.33 billion tonnes of abatement – nearly four times the 328 million tonnes needed under Coalition policy. As Professor McKibbin himself said, “raising the target reduction from 28 per cent to 45 per cent would almost double the cost to the economy…by 2030, you’re well and truly worse off. It is twice as costly for twice the target.” The Australian, 11 July 2017
Bill Shorten and his energy and climate spokesperson Mark Butler are trying to pull an outrageous con job on the Australian people.
Patricia Karvelas: When will we see your full modelling for how it will effect the economy?
Mark Butler: I don’t understand why it’s inappropriate for us to rely upon [Professor McKibbin’s] modelling that the Australian Government commissioned.
ABC, 17 April 2019
Well, here are a few reasons Mr Butler, for a start:
1. Professor McKibbin himself has said his modelling, done in 2015, “did not model Labor’s policy”. Twitter, 19 March 2019
2. Professor McKibbin’s modelling did not cover the entire economy, excluding around 30% of Australia’s emissions including fugitives from manufacturing, mining and oil and gas production. These are the sectors that will be hit hardest by Labor’s new carbon tax.
3. Bill Shorten himself has previously dismissed Professor McKibbin’s modelling as “just complete rubbish” and implied the modelling results were made up. ABC Lateline, 1 December 2015
4. Professor McKibbin’s modelling assumes a carbon price of US$5 per tonne, rising to US$10 in 2030, much lower than current international prices of around US$30 per tonne and far below forecast prices for 2030. Professor McKibbin: “If the price of offsets in the world is higher than we assume, that effect is gone. We don’t know what the price of offsets will be in 2030. These numbers are not precise in any sense.” The Australian, 18 April 2019
The Labor Party’s desperate insistence on relying solely on modelling from 2015 proves the terrifying truth: if elected, Labor is committing this country to an economy-wrecking emissions target and no one in the Labor Party has done the numbers on what the consequences are.
The Coalition has stepped through – to the last megatonne and the last dollar – how we are going to meet our international obligations.
Bill Shorten isn’t telling us the truth about how much Labor’s reckless target will cost – because he actually has no idea.
If Bill Shorten can’t tell you the truth about his policies, how can Australians trust him?
Bill Shorten and Labor have resorted to relying on four-year old modelling done by Professor Warwick McKibbin to detail the cost of their policy, including claiming that there will be “no additional cost” to meet Labor’s 45% target relative to the Coalition’s 26% target.
This is despite Labor needing 1.33 billion tonnes of abatement – nearly four times the 328 million tonnes needed under Coalition policy. As Professor McKibbin himself said, “raising the target reduction from 28 per cent to 45 per cent would almost double the cost to the economy…by 2030, you’re well and truly worse off. It is twice as costly for twice the target.” The Australian, 11 July 2017
Bill Shorten and his energy and climate spokesperson Mark Butler are trying to pull an outrageous con job on the Australian people.
Patricia Karvelas: When will we see your full modelling for how it will effect the economy?
Mark Butler: I don’t understand why it’s inappropriate for us to rely upon [Professor McKibbin’s] modelling that the Australian Government commissioned.
ABC, 17 April 2019
Well, here are a few reasons Mr Butler, for a start:
1. Professor McKibbin himself has said his modelling, done in 2015, “did not model Labor’s policy”. Twitter, 19 March 2019
2. Professor McKibbin’s modelling did not cover the entire economy, excluding around 30% of Australia’s emissions including fugitives from manufacturing, mining and oil and gas production. These are the sectors that will be hit hardest by Labor’s new carbon tax.
3. Bill Shorten himself has previously dismissed Professor McKibbin’s modelling as “just complete rubbish” and implied the modelling results were made up. ABC Lateline, 1 December 2015
4. Professor McKibbin’s modelling assumes a carbon price of US$5 per tonne, rising to US$10 in 2030, much lower than current international prices of around US$30 per tonne and far below forecast prices for 2030. Professor McKibbin: “If the price of offsets in the world is higher than we assume, that effect is gone. We don’t know what the price of offsets will be in 2030. These numbers are not precise in any sense.” The Australian, 18 April 2019
The Labor Party’s desperate insistence on relying solely on modelling from 2015 proves the terrifying truth: if elected, Labor is committing this country to an economy-wrecking emissions target and no one in the Labor Party has done the numbers on what the consequences are.
The Coalition has stepped through – to the last megatonne and the last dollar – how we are going to meet our international obligations.
Bill Shorten isn’t telling us the truth about how much Labor’s reckless target will cost – because he actually has no idea.
If Bill Shorten can’t tell you the truth about his policies, how can Australians trust him?
Record Jobs Numbers Demonstrate Importance of a Strong Economy
Today’s Australian Bureau of Statistics Labour Force figures demonstrate the benefits of a strong economy, with 1,316,000 jobs created since the Coalition Government came to office in September 2013.
There are more Australians in work than ever before. Total employment has increased by 304,700 over the year to a record high of 12,791,500. Full-time jobs growth increased 48,300 in March 2019, and in the last twelve month 95 per cent of the jobs created have been full-time jobs.
Under the Coalition female employment has reached record highs, with female employment currently at 6,000,600. Under the Coalition we have also seen the lowest gender pay gap on record and record high levels of female workforce participation.
Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations, the Hon Kelly O’Dwyer, said the Coalition’s economic plan is working.
“Our plan for a strong economy is working. There are more Australians in work than ever before, with more than 1.3 million jobs created over our time in Government,” Minister O’Dwyer said.
“But we want to see even more Australians in work, which is why our plan for a strong economy is so important.”
“A re-elected Morrison Government will pledge to create an additional 1.25 million jobs over five years, including an additional 250,000 jobs for young people.”
“Our personal income tax plan will encourage and reward hard work and help families get ahead. And our small business tax plan benefits 3.4 million businesses employing over 7 million Australians. Only a re-elected Morrison Government has a plan for a strong economy.”
“Labor and Bill Shorten’s $387 billion in higher taxes will weaken our economy, undermine small business, and put jobs at risk.”
“When Labor was last in government the unemployment rate jumped from 4.4 per cent to 5.7 per cent, and in their final year in office full-time employment fell by over 20,000.”
“The choice is clear. Only a re-elected Morrison Government has a plan for a stronger economy which will create jobs and guarantee the essential services Australians rely on,” Minister O’Dwyer concluded.
ONLY LABOR WILL DELIVER THE NDIS THAT AUSTRALIANS DESPERATELY NEED
A Shorten Labor Government will invest in the NDIS workforce and get the scheme back on track by investing $40 million in local NDIS workforce trials and urgently developing a national NDIS workforce strategy.
Scott Morrison and the Liberals have short-changed the NDIS and the people who rely on it, delaying the rollout and capping staff in a bid to deliver a surplus.
The $1.6 billion underspend the Liberals booked in their budget is a direct result of their failure to deliver the NDIS as promised.
77,000 people with a disability and their families are going without vital services because of the delayed rollout.
And on average people are only using just 50 per cent of their first NDIS plan, largely because of a lack of access to services.
That’s not good enough and only Labor will get the NDIS back on track by properly investing in the workforce so quality services are delivered to people with disability.
As many as 90,000 extra NDIS workers will be needed over the next five years to meet the needs of the 460,000 Australians who will get access to the NDIS.
A Shorten Labor Government will establish two-year local NDIS workforce trials in 2020 and 2021 to establish the best way to sustainably grow and maintain a skilled NDIS workforce.
The trials will be flexible and place-based and will be a partnership between people with disability, providers, TAFE, government and workers.
The NDIS workforce trial will have three components:
- Ensuring NDIS workers have the foundation skills they need, with up to 3000 training support payments of $2,000 for induction training;
- Supporting NDIS workers to get Certificate III qualifications, with up to 2000 training support payments of $4,000; and
- Providing a portable professional development entitlement for NDIS workers, with up to 5000 training support payments of $750 per year, so people can take time off work to specialise and upgrade their skills.
Labor will also scrap up-front TAFE fees for 20,000 students studying to get skills for the NDIS and aged care.
The trials will establish the best flexible local solutions to skills shortages, gaps in the training curriculum and course availability, and barriers to getting the right people working in the NDIS.
The initial trial sites will be:
- Canberra – where the NDIS is creating between 1000 and 1200 new jobs.
- Townsville – where the NDIS is creating between 800 and 950 new jobs.
- Joondalup – where the NDIS roll-out is just beginning and hundreds of new workers will be needed.
A Shorten Labor Government will work with state and territory governments to expand the workforce trial to other locations.
Labor will also develop a comprehensive national NDIS workforce strategy, in partnership with people with disability, families and advocates; service providers; state and territory governments; TAFE; and workers.
Only Labor can be trusted to properly fund, deliver and support the NDIS so that people with disability, their families and loved ones get the support they desperately need and deserve.
Greens Put NSW Environment at Centre of Election Campaign
Australian Greens Senator for NSW, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, has announced the Greens Environment Plan for New South Wales. The centrepiece of the Greens environment policy this election is a new Nature Fund, which would invest $2bn a year across the country to protect Australian flora and fauna and fund the development of recovery plans for at-risk species. The fund will also pay for qualified “environment managers”, and boost the number of Indigenous rangers. The plan is funded through a carbon price and making big polluters pay.
In New South Wales, the plan consists of:
- $8.9m for conservation of koalas including habitat restoration, support for community based programs and research.
- $17m a year to go to local councils through the Local Greening Program
- $6.8m a year from additional Landcare funding
- $2m a year to NSW Nature Conservation Council
- More Indigenous rangers – boosting the number of NSW rangers to 240
- Funding for the Environmental Defenders Office
Senator Faruqi said:
“Nature has intrinsic value, it is not just a commodity to be used and abused. As an environmental engineer, I know we need bold and evidence based plans to start reversing the decline of our precious ecosystems.
“The NSW and Federal Liberal-National Governments have declared war on our environment and we are reaching a point of no return.
“Our plan represents the biggest investment in environmental conservation in Australia’s history. It will begin to turn the tide of ecocide which sadly has become the norm in New South Wales.
“With overdevelopment, climate change and increasing land clearing in New South Wales, our environment is under threat like never before. Corporations are free to rip up, pollute and bulldoze our precious environment. We need bold action to protect our environment.
“We are rapidly hurtling towards a future in New South Wales where our next generations will not see a koala in the bush or in a national park and perhaps not even in a zoo. Koalas are on track to be extinct in New South Wales by 2050 if we continue our current path. This is an absolute tragedy.
“The Greens are drawing a line in the sand to stop our precious threatened species from slipping away,” she concluded.
Greens Launch Plan to Ensure Access to English Language Support
Australian Greens Education Spokesperson and Senator for NSW, Dr Mehreen Faruqi has today launched a National Plan to ensure access to English Language Support, including through launching an urgent review to reverse the outsourcing of services provided by the Adult Migrant English Program.
The Greens’ plan will:
1. Stop the undermining of the the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) and begin an urgent review to reverse the outsourcing of services.
2. Ensure the development and implementation of a nationally agreed English language proficiency framework for assessing and reporting on the needs and progress of students learning English as an Additional (EAL) language in schools.
3. Support the development of effective post-school education and training pathways for migrant and refugee youth who have difficulty accessing the education and training system due to a lack of English and prior education.
4. Establish a dedicated unit in the Department of Education and Training to oversee and coordinate language in education and training.
The Greens will set aside $50 million over the forward estimates to implement the plan:
Senator Faruqi said:
“Confidence in reading and writing is fundamental for social interaction, education and employment, but some are being left behind by a lack of resources because successive Governments have ignored this important issue.
“The Adult Migrant English Service is an essential service that for decades assisted migrants to settle successfully in Australia. But the Liberal/National Government’s outsourcing experiment has undermined its effectiveness.
“The Greens will initiate an urgent review of the program to determine how to save the Adult Migrant English Program, reverse the outsourcing of services and ensure the focus remains on supporting migrants to successfully settle in Australia
“We cannot allow people to be left behind by Governments who are not prioritising English language support. The Greens stand with migrant communities and are building a future for all of us.
The Greens Plan
1. Stop the undermining of the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) and start an urgent review to begin the process of reversing the outsourcing of services.
The Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) is an essential service for assisting new migrants to settle more successfully and quickly in Australia. But since the Liberal/National Government’s contracting out of the service and a new business model that moves the focus from the successful settlement of migrants, the quality of the program has suffered. Stakeholders say it is no longer fit for purpose and doesn’t meet its primary goal of supporting migrants to learn the English they need for successful settlement in Australia. The Greens will initiate an urgent review of the program to determine how to save the program and reverse the outsourcing of services.
2. Ensure the development and implementation of a nationally agreed English language proficiency framework for assessing and reporting on the needs and progress of students learning English as an Additional Language (EAL) in schools.
Although English language support programs have been in schools for nearly fifty years, Australia still has no nationally agreed framework for identifying, assessing or reporting on English language learners’ English proficiency needs. This situation prevents national identification, reporting and needs based funding for this group. The Greens will ensure that the framework is developed and implemented across state and territory jurisdictions.
3. Support the development of effective post-school education and training pathways for migrant and refugee youth who have difficulty accessing the education and training system due to lack of English and prior education.
Secondary aged humanitarian entrants who arrive in Australia who lack English and haven’t fully completed prior schooling are at risk of dropping out of school and missing out on access to further education and training pathways. These young people need basic education programs that develop English language, literacy and numeracy and work-related and personal development skills, integrated with settlement, wellbeing and vocational counselling support. Previous Youth Transition Support pilot programs showed models of effective early intervention across school, work and community settings supporting young people into education and employment pathways.
The Greens will support the up-scaling, development and effective implementation of these Youth Transition support programs and ensure that good practice models are sustained and used to improve education and training pathways for at-risk migrant and refugee young people.
4. Establish a dedicated unit in the Department of Education and Training to oversee and coordinate language in education and training.
There is no national leadership or expertise to oversee and coordinate language in education and training. The Greens will establish a dedicated unit in the Department of Education and Training to serve as a national agency focal point for supporting and monitoring language in education and training initiatives across government. This unit will work with states and territories to ensure English language support is integrated in related areas of Government, such as schools, TAFEs, early childhood and other areas.