AUSTRADE, the Australian Government’s international education promotion agency, is holding a series of open workshops across Australia seeking input on future directions for Australia’s international education and training sector.

The workshops are part of the AIE 2025 Roadshow and will help develop a long-term market plan, Australian International Education (AIE) 2025. They are open to all industry representatives and interested parties.

Austrade’s General Manager, Education, John Angley, said international education contributed $17.6 billion to the national economy last year, making it Australia’s fourth-biggest export, and this could grow considerably.

“To unlock the potential we are seeking creative and bold thinking to identify sustainable opportunities matching Australia’s strengths and global trends,” Mr Angley said.

“We need ongoing investment and innovation to recruit students to Australia and to build on opportunities to deliver Australian courses, skills and content in overseas countries, often with local partners,” he said.

“As highlighted by Trade and Investment Minister, Andrew Robb, there is potential not only to double the number of students coming to Australia, but also to engage millions of people in their own countries in Australian education, training and skills, through offshore delivery, blended learning and digital technologies,” Mr Angley said.

Development of the plan will complement the Draft National Strategy for International Education launched by Minister for Education and Training, Christopher Pyne, on 1 April 2015. The plan aims to support a competitive, innovative and sustainable industry and generate jobs and prosperity for Australia and our partners around the world.

So far the AIE 2025 roadshow has met with more than 300 people in Darwin, Townsville, Sydney and Brisbane. Austrade invites participation in upcoming workshops in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Hobart and via a webinar on 28 April.

For information visit www.austrade.gov.au/AIE2025 or emailThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Twitter #AIE2025.

ends

AS AT 5pm AEST Thursday April 16, 2015, the bidding window has officially closed for the first Emissions Reduction Fund auction.

In line with the auction guidelines, the Clean Energy Regulator has five business days to compile and publish the outcomes from the auction.

All bidders will be notified of the outcome of their bid and the auction results will be published on our website by 2pm on Thursday  April 23, 2015.

No information will be released before this date.

The Clean Energy Regulator will publish:

• the total volume of abatement to be delivered by the successful bidders
• the average price per tonne of abatement and,
• for each successful bid:
• the name of the contractor
• the project(s) covered by the contract
• the volume of abatement committed under the contract
• the duration of the contract.

Chloe Munro, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Clean Energy Regulator, will be available for media interviews on Thursday April 23, 2015.

www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au

ends

THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) welcomed NSW Minister for Regional Development, Skills and Small Business, John Barilaro at its Learning and Development meeting yesterday in Sydney.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said the ARA Learning and Development Committee encompasses some of NSW biggest employers, representing hundreds of thousands of jobs.

“We were honoured to have Minister Barilaro attend our meeting yesterday and provide an overview of the NSW Governments small business and skills policies. The NSW Government is seeking consultation with the retail industry as to how the Government can best provide workforce development and skills from entry to management level retail staff.

“It was welcoming to see how passionate the Minister was about the retail sector. Retail is the largest private sector employer, encompassing 10.6% of the total workforce. Our industry is responsible for jobs creation and career opportunities for thousands of Australians, and we look forward to working alongside the NSW Government to ensure these opportunities are available to retailers both now and in the future,” Mr Zimmerman said.

Since 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body representing Australia’s $265 billion retail sector, which employs over 1.2 million people. The ARA ensures retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia.

Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

ends

VECCI Chief Executive Mark Stone said the organisation has been a long-standing supporter of the East West Link project and is obviously disappointed that the project will not proceed under the Andrews Government.

"The project would have reduced congestion, made the movement of freight more efficient and improved the amenity of Melbourne’s growth areas," Mr Stone said.

"We acknowledge that in the 2014 state election campaign, Daniel Andrews promised that a Labor Government would not proceed with the project. 

"VECCI acknowledges that the Victorian Government has reached a good faith agreement with the East West Link consortium to terminate the contract without compensation or legislation. 

"However, the fact that a substantial $339 million in bid process, design and pre-construction costs have already been incurred is unfortunate for taxpayers. 

"In addition, $81 million in fees were incurred to establish a credit facility for the East West Link project. However, this facility will now be used to support the Melbourne Metro Rail Project.

"The costs and complexities associated with East West Link confirms the establishment of Infrastructure Victoria, an independent body to advise on significant infrastructure planning and development matters, must be a priority. 

"We need to ensure there is a long-term approach to capital works beyond election cycles.  Key to this process is not only a broad and strong consensus on Victoria’s infrastructure priorities, but clarity, confidence and certainty for the private sector. 

"A priority of Infrastructure Victoria will be to determine what needs to occur to offset the loss of East West Link and reduce rapidly expanding congestion on Melbourne’s roads. This needs to encompass a second river crossing," Mr Stone said.

"In the interim, the State Government must use the coming State Budget to make an unequivocal commitment to deliver its forward infrastructure agenda, including the Melbourne Metro Rail Project, the removal of level crossings and vital capacity-enhancing regional projects."

The Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) is the most influential business organisation in Victoria, informing and servicing more than 15,000 members, customers and clients around the state.

vecci.org.au 

ends