Nelson's cheap stunt jeopardises multi-billion dollar industry

17/11/05
Education and Training Minister Ljiljanna Ravlich has condemned her Federal counterpart Brendan Nelson for jeopardising the $7.5billion overseas students contribute to the Australian economy each year.
"This time the Federal Education Minister has overstepped the mark," Ms Ravlich said.
"It was a shonky report, funded by Nelson, written by one of his Liberal cronies aimed at undermining Australia's education system."
A recent article in the Bangkok Post said: 'If you were thinking about sending your children to an Australian school think again. Teachers addled by New Age nonsense . have sent standards plunging'.
"This newspaper article was based on a report written by one of Nelson's Liberal cronies, Dr Kevin Donnelly," the Minister said.
"Other academics slammed Donnelly's report as lacking any science in his ranking system, which put Australia's educational standards behind Japan, England, Singapore and California.
"So we have a dodgy report, for which Brendan Nelson paid $80,000, undermining the quality of Australian education overseas.
"I know Brendan Nelson is desperate to grab headlines to make his run for the Prime Minister's job but jeopardising Australia's fourth largest industry is a price far too high to pay.
"I wonder what the Prime Minister would think of Dr Nelson's cheap political stunt and the devastating effect it could have on schools and universities across Australia?
"Brendan Nelson has been Federal Education Minister for almost four years now and in that time he has done nothing to improve the standard of education across Australia.
"All Dr Nelson does is insult teachers and criticise the standards of education being taught in our schools and universities.
"As a Minister, he should be ashamed of himself; he should be championing our education system, not running it down for his own political gain."
The Gallop Government is committed to delivering a world-class education to all Western Australians.
Minister's office - 9213 6800