Mr BURKE - 1994-10-11
Last week, the Financial Review carried a report on the value of international students to the Victorian economy. How does the Northern Territory benefit from its overseas students?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, further to some of the good news given by the Minister for Industries and Development a moment ago, about export growth and potential for the Northern Territory, another quietly growing area is that of education. Education is not often looked on as an export earner, but I am pleased to advise that, following the article in the Financial Review, I obtained an update on Territory schools. Territory secondary schools have currently some 76 students from overseas attracting $0.42m in fees alone. The NTU and TAFE had a total of 247 students in 1993, attracting almost $2m in fees alone. When it is realised that those young students, whether they are in high school or at university, require board and lodging and other facilities to sustain them throughout the year, we estimate that there is another $1.5m in value to the Territory economy from high school students and $4.5m from university and TAFE students. That adds up to $8m-worth of value to the Northern Territory economy.
To put that in context, we have been extremely proud of growth in the horticultural area. Of course, the majority of exports from the Territory go interstate. Those going overseas, because of the high costs of freight, amounted last year to about $1.6m. That is a very good figure and it is a growing figure. The comparative figure for education is $1.92m. Thus, it can be seen that it is a very valuable contributor to the Territory economy. The majority of students come from Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, China, Brunei and Taiwan. St John's College is involved. I am not sure if St John's figures are included in those 76 students, but I will clarify that later. St John's has 2 Russian students commencing at the school next year.
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All in all, it is a growing industry of which we can be proud. We have reason to be proud of many aspects of the Territory education system. I will add here, Mr Speaker, to your welcome to Leanyer Primary School students earlier. It is one of my favourite schools and I am delighted that those students are in the Assembly today to hear more good news about Territory education.
Page 215
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, further to some of the good news given by the Minister for Industries and Development a moment ago, about export growth and potential for the Northern Territory, another quietly growing area is that of education. Education is not often looked on as an export earner, but I am pleased to advise that, following the article in the Financial Review, I obtained an update on Territory schools. Territory secondary schools have currently some 76 students from overseas attracting $0.42m in fees alone. The NTU and TAFE had a total of 247 students in 1993, attracting almost $2m in fees alone. When it is realised that those young students, whether they are in high school or at university, require board and lodging and other facilities to sustain them throughout the year, we estimate that there is another $1.5m in value to the Territory economy from high school students and $4.5m from university and TAFE students. That adds up to $8m-worth of value to the Northern Territory economy.
To put that in context, we have been extremely proud of growth in the horticultural area. Of course, the majority of exports from the Territory go interstate. Those going overseas, because of the high costs of freight, amounted last year to about $1.6m. That is a very good figure and it is a growing figure. The comparative figure for education is $1.92m. Thus, it can be seen that it is a very valuable contributor to the Territory economy. The majority of students come from Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, China, Brunei and Taiwan. St John's College is involved. I am not sure if St John's figures are included in those 76 students, but I will clarify that later. St John's has 2 Russian students commencing at the school next year.
Page 214
All in all, it is a growing industry of which we can be proud. We have reason to be proud of many aspects of the Territory education system. I will add here, Mr Speaker, to your welcome to Leanyer Primary School students earlier. It is one of my favourite schools and I am delighted that those students are in the Assembly today to hear more good news about Territory education.
Page 215
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016