PA/33/09 1 September 2009
This media release from the Australian High Commission contains:
• Speech on Australia-India bilateral relationship by the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Julia Gillard MP. Monday, 31 August 2009, New Delhi
• Speech at Lady Shri Ram College on “Women in Leadership”. Monday, 31 August 2009, New Delhi.
Media enquiries: Public Affairs Section, 011 4139 9900
Australia-India bilateral relationship
Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Julia Gillard MP
Monday, 31 August 2009, New Delhi
Let me start by thanking you for this opportunity to discuss and celebrate the long and mutually rewarding relationship between our two countries.
And let me acknowledge the fact that so many people in this room doing so much to further develop the close bonds between us.
I feel honoured to be here in the modern capital of an ancient civilization – a place that sums up what India is today: ancient and modern, spiritual and secular, democratic and tolerant, and, importantly, a place where women like the Chief Minister of Delhi, whom I will meet tomorrow, play a leading role in the life of the nation.
The hospitality that has been shown to me has been overwhelming. I’ve been made to feel at home.
We share so much our two nations: a common language, a common democratic heritage, and a common resolve to fight terrorism.
We also share a passion for cricket, though our perspective on every test match will differ – thanks for the reminders on the Ashes!
So much about modern Australia bears the stamp of the Indian people, their culture and their business success.
Today 250,000 people of Indian heritage are making an invaluable contribution to our nation.
A fifth of them were born in Australia and many descended from our nation’s earliest settlers.
This historical connection between our two countries is something many are unaware of: our relationship with Indian people and Indian settlers goes back to the beginnings of Australian settlement itself.
Indians in early Australia were cane cutters, clerks and camel drivers.
They helped found the city where I grew up– Adelaide – and develop the north and the interior of the Australian continent.
They are a great part of the great Australian story.
Today we extend a warm welcome to so many visitors from India who come to conduct business, to holiday, to attend college or to stay permanently in our country.
In fact no fewer than 120,000 Indian citizens visited Australia last year –and we want many more of them to follow.
We also are enjoying an unprecedented number of government-to-government contacts, including the first official visit to Australia of the External Affairs Minister, Minister Krishna, this August. That was an important landmark for us.
This increased diplomatic exchange reflects our many shared interests.
• We cooperate closely in the ASEAN Regional Forum, the East Asia Summit, the World Trade Organisation and, of course, the G20.
• We’re delighted to have India as a founding member of the Australian-initiated Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute – reflecting our belief that global warming will only be avoided if we can link emissions reductions to higher living standards for all the peoples of the world.
• And we’re beginning the feasibility stage of a potential free trade agreement between our two countries - and our Trade Minister will be in India shortly. This reflects the fact that India is Australia’s eighth-largest trading partner and our fifth-largest export market.
Together we have a profound mutual interest in ensuring the rise of East Asia in world affairs is democratic, peaceful and environmentally sustainable.
Australia believes democratic India has a crucial role to play in world affairs as our region rises to further global prominence.
And that’s why Australia firmly believes India should become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a member of APEC.
Australia is committed to taking its relationship with India to a higher level and to engaging with India on a long term strategic basis across so many areas – from defense to energy to economic development and, of course, to education.
International educational exchanges
As you know, as well as Deputy Prime Minister, I am also Australia’s Education Minister. In that capacity it is my privilege to travel to kindergartens, schools, vocational education colleges and universities, where I meet many Indian Australian children, students and researchers who exhibit a love of learning.
From primary school to postgraduate study, Indian-Australians and overseas students have lifted the standard for everyone.
You can’t help but be struck by the seriousness with which the Indian community views education. It’s an attitude the whole world can benefit from.
The friendships, the cultural understanding, the commercial links that this education activity brings are all part of the important process of opening up our nations to each other and the world.
Their benefit is incalculable.
I’m absolutely convinced that whatever mutual benefits may come from tourism, energy and diplomacy, they all pale in comparison with the long-term benefits that come through education and education exchange.
Every Indian student who comes to Australia – those who leave as well as those who stay – are part of Australia and India’s future.
This makes me determined to ensure our education system is working harmoniously and our education systems are working well together.
I’m pleased to say that today when I meet with my Indian counterpart, Minister Sibal, we agreed to an annual Ministerial dialogue on education. Importantly this dialogue will involve representatives from both education and industry from both countries. This is an important development.
Enormous positive cooperation is underway already.
There are currently 135 active institutional links between Australian and Indian tertiary institutions ranging from student exchange, study abroad programs, staff exchanges and academic and research collaboration.
Sydney, Adelaide, Monash, Deakin and RMIT universities, the University of Technology and the University of New South Wales in Sydney, the University of South Australia, and the Queensland University of Technology all have significant multiple links with Indian institutions. And many representatives from those institutions are in the room tonight.
Undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships are allowing more of our young people to study each other’s political systems, cultures and scientific strengths.
Our researchers are working together to apply new scientific knowledge to prevent our seas from being contaminated by oil spills, to restore sight to the victims of industrial accidents, to make irrigation systems more sustainable in the future in the face of climate change and to develop the next generation of radio telescopes that will increase our knowledge of the solar system and our universe.
Our links are part of a world story. And they’re happening at a time when our part of the world is rising to prominence and new problems are emerging. What we do to now prepare the next generation matters to the entire planet.
These educational advances are the fruits of the highly successful memorandum of understanding on bilateral education and training links between our two countries that was renewed in 2003 and has been strengthened by subsequent high level working groups, delegations and conferences.
It’s a story of close cooperation and extraordinary success.
And this success is perhaps most powerfully illustrated by the numbers of Indian students wanting to study in our country.
India is currently the second largest source of overseas students in our country and the second most popular destination after the United States for Indian students who want to study abroad.
India is already Australia’s fastest growing export market for education services raising $2 billion in export income.
Nearly half a million students come to Australia every year, including nearly 100,000 from this nation. They live and work in Australia. These students contribute to our multicultural society while they gain skills and knowledge to take home.
This makes student exchange an endeavour of mutual benefit to both our nations.
And that gives us a joint responsibility to ensure that the international student industry expands sustainably.
Two issues in particular have arisen in recent times. They are serious but they’re manageable and I want to speak to you about them candidly and honestly – as befits our strong friendship.
Student welfare
The first involves recent reports of attacks on Indian students studying in our country.
What happens to our young people, far from home, away from their parent’s care, rightly arouses strong passions for all of us. And it’s understandable that these can lead to loud demands for action. We certainly understand that.
Let me tell you, as a friend of Indian Australians and as the person responsible for welcoming young Indian students to Australia, I feel this anger too.
And I am absolutely determined to ensure that everything is done to ensure that Indian students are welcomed and safe.
But from bad, good can happen. You may have seen the footage here in India of Sourabh Sharma, an Indian student who was hurt and robbed on a train. I’m sad to say this happened in close to where I live. This week in the local newspaper in the community I represent in the Federal Parliament, Sharma spoke about his life since the assault.
Mr Sharma said he was touched by the community’s kindness following the attack.
‘It’s difficult to feel angry about it because so many good things have happened since then and I’ve made plenty of new friends. I’ve received emails and phone calls from people who didn’t even know me but wanted to help.
A dentist called and wanted to fix my teeth and a family from Wyndham Vale invited me for dinner and coffee”
All violent crime is absolutely unacceptable in Australian society. Sharma’s reflection powerfully shows that overwhelmingly Australians agree with that and they’re determined to show their repugnance of violence.
The Australian Government is doing everything it can to work with the state authorities and their police forces to bring perpetrators to justice, respond to their crimes and protect students and others in the community.
But it’s worth placing this problem in its full context.
The fact is that Australia is a relatively safe country compared to most other nations.
Australia has below average rates of assault and threats.
And lower rates of assault against migrants.
This makes it a safe place to visit and a safe place to study.
The Indian community in Melbourne, which has followed this issue closely, agrees with the assessment of police that the majority of recent highly publicized attacks on Indian students are opportunistic and in general, not racially motivated. They’re stupid, wanton criminal acts that could have happened to anyone.
Modern Australia is one of the most successful multicultural nations on earth, having successfully settled nearly seven million people from more than 200 countries since 1945.
Today some 43 per cent of Australia’s population of 21 million were either born overseas or have a parent who was born overseas.
That means that when you sit next to someone on a Melbourne tram, a Sydney ferry or a Brisbane train, there’s a better than 4-in-10 chance that they or their parents were not born in Australia.
Australia is a modern, liberal, tolerant nation. This is a reputation we are determined to maintain. That’s why we are doing absolutely everything we can to keep your young people safe when they visit our country.
Higher-visibility police operations are now underway to secure the physical safety of students and a number of arrests of suspected perpetrators have been made.
Visiting Indian students are our honored guests. We are doing all we can to protect them and make them welcome.
Providing quality education
Australia has a reputation as one of the leading international student destinations in the world.
Our universities are among the best with an international reputation for excellence in teaching and research. University staff are drawn from the best universities across the globe. And according to the Times rankings, 18 percent of our universities are in the world’s top 100.
Our national training system is also outstanding. One of the world’s best.
Despite this, problems have arisen, related to the rapid growth of the overseas student industry to meet the rising demand for recognised qualifications in the Asian region. As the region has grown, so has the need for skills for the region’s people.
In Australia the number of Indian students has gone up from 14,000 in 2004 to nearly 90,000 in 2009. And unfortunately, rapid growth - and this has been unexpectedly rapid - has created both new opportunities and new pressures.
Most overseas education providers in Australia are doing the right thing, but a small number of unscrupulous operators have entered the industry, providing education of insufficient quality.
The Australian Government is coming down hard on these fraudulent education providers.
We have no intention of allowing Australia’s reputation as an overseas student provider of the first rank to be damaged.
We have acted.
In the weeks prior to traveling here, I introduced into our national Parliament new laws and new measures to tackle this problem.
As a result, all overseas education providers will be required to re-register by the end of next year or lose their right to teach.
This process, where providers will be forced to prove their teaching quality and financial viability will ensure the removal of poor operators.
Rapid audits of providers are also being undertaken to uncover potential problems.
This will result in some operators closing. I want to reassure you that in the case of a college closure, students are offered a place with another provider; if a suitable provider cannot be found then students have their fees refunded.
We also want to ensure overseas students have a strong voice in Australia. Currently there is no one recognised group to represent the interests of the students who come from overseas to study in Australia. When I return to Australia, I will be hosting an International Student Round table.
This roundtable itself will be an opportunity for students to raise their concerns and make suggestions about solutions. I will also be asking this group to make suggestions about a good strong representative organisation for international students in the future so there will be a continuing voice.
The Australian Government is taking this issue so seriously that I have appointed a respected former member of the Australian Parliament, Mr Bruce Baird, to chair a review of the international student situation, with a view to recommending further changes in a report to be handed down in 2010.
This is an issue that is beyond politics in Australia. There will be no cover-ups. And there will be nothing swept under the carpet.
Conclusion
I’m very pleased to be able to say that the Indian and Australian Governments are cooperating strongly through the long established Joint Working Group to deal with both of these issues of student welfare and the quality and viability of institutions.
This willingness to work together symbolizes something very important. We both understand how crucially important our educational exchanges are to our nations. It’s a magnificent economic, cultural and scientific success story for both of us.
There’s too much at stake for us to let misunderstandings and periodic problems hold us back.
Education is part of the powerful partnership that is strengthening between our two nations.
Our two peoples and our futures are closely linked.
And there’s so much we can learn from each other. And we look forward to doing just that.
Thank you.
Women in leadership
Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi
Monday 31 August 2009
It’s an absolute pleasure to be here today and a privilege to meet so many women who are aspiring to be leaders in tomorrow’s India.
You have a wonderful opportunity to study at a college set up in 1956 to overcome barriers that prevented women from studying for higher education qualifications.
It seems to me a very great achievement that over 50 years ago women here in India and in so many parts of the world were dedicating their lives to creating a better future for their daughters.
Indeed, while the 20th century will be remembered for many things – two world wars, globalisation, the advent of information and communications technology, the emergence from colonialism of independent nations, air and space travel and the list goes on – one of the defining stories of last century was the struggle for women’s emancipation and equality.
The fight for the right to vote, to learn, to work and to make choices was waged by feminists around the globe.
Many of you, I am sure, will have heard of English essayist and writer Virginia Woolf. What some of you may not know is that in 1928 Virginia Woolf gave lectures about the importance of financial independence and intellectual freedom for women at two women’s colleges at Cambridge University.
Like Lady Shri Ram College, both Girton College established in 1869 and Newnham College established in 1871 were set up to support women wanting to study at university.
Woolf’s well-known book, A Room of One’s Own, is based on this lecture series. Published in 1929, it sold more than 10 000 copies in the first five months and remains one of the most significant feminist texts of the twentieth century.
Unquestionably a ‘leader in her field’, Virginia Woolf was invited to address the National Society for Women’s Service in 1931. The Society was concerned about the issue of women and employment and suggested that she might like to talk about her own professional experiences.
Since then, it has become almost standard fare for women who succeed in their professions—especially those who are in the public eye—to be asked to talk about their own experience of ‘making it’.
I’m going to be candid with you today. I’m going to confess to you that this is not something I am great at doing.
When I was your age, I didn’t set out to become Australia’s first female Deputy Prime Minister—nor the first foreign-born person to hold the position.
I certainly didn’t sit at my school desk in primary school dreaming of a political career, though I always had a strong sense of what I thought was right and wrong in a ‘values’ sense. Probably because I really enjoyed school and respected my teachers, for a long time I wanted to be a teacher. Today, when I visit great educational institutions like this one, I am still filled with admiration and respect for those who teach and take the responsibility for shaping the minds and characters of those who will shape the future.
But while I wasn’t dreaming of being Deputy Prime Minister, my parents always encouraged my sister and I to think big about our futures. They never suggested that our lives or aspirations should be limited by our gender.
My family was and remains a great source of inspiration and support. It took guts for my parents to leave Wales in 1966 with their two young daughters; to move to the other side of the world as ‘assisted passage migrants’ (or ‘10 pound poms’). I do not doubt the immense impact this move had on my life.
My mum and my dad both missed out on educations that could have made a real difference to their lives. My father grew up in a Welsh mining village, one of seven children. He won a scholarship to complete school but couldn’t take it up because his family needed him to work. My mother’s education was disrupted due to ill health. Only one of her siblings survived childhood. Both of my parents were determined that my sister and I would have the opportunities they didn’t have. And, in moving to Australia, we did.
Australia has offered me opportunities that would have been inconceivable to my parents when they stepped off the boat in Adelaide in 1966.
Their love and support mattered. And government action mattered.
I was able to go to university because the former Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam—in a radically visionary move—had abolished university fees, opening the door to a tertiary education for an entire generation of Australians, including me.
It is probably true to say that my interest in politics really came into its own while studying arts and law at university. At university I embraced the heady world of student politics wholeheartedly. I learnt a whole lot about debating, factions and the rest. I ran for national student political positions becoming Vice-President and then President of the Australian Union of Students.
This experience inspired me to spend the next eight years of my life working as an industrial lawyer defending trade unions and working people. Something I remain passionate about to this day.
What I can say is that in my political career I have been—and continue to be—supported and inspired by an amazing range of people.
People I met during my university days are today great friends and colleagues. I am also deeply privileged to have so many talented and dedicated people working in my office—without them I simply could not do my job.
Of course it took me a while to put all the pieces of the puzzle together, but when I did, I could see one thing very clearly. Good government really can change lives. If I can leave you with one central message it would be that because good government really can change lives, as tomorrow’s leaders you have a responsibility to work for and support good government. It is the debt you own to forebears who gave you your opportunities and what you should dream of bequeathing to those who come after you.
In my world—the world of Australian politics—women make up 30 per cent of all Australian Parliamentarians.
In the Australian Public Service, women account for almost 60 per cent of the 160 000 employees. Three departments are headed up by women.
These are women who have chosen to make a difference with a dream of delivering good government and changing lives.
When Virginia Woolf addressed the National Society for Women’s Services, she found herself in a hall surrounded by women practising—for the first time in history—a range of professions.
But, this freedom, these choices —‘this room of one’s own’—she cautioned, was only the beginning.
‘The room is your own, but it is still bare. It has to be furnished; it has to be decorated; it has to be shared. How are you going to furnish it, how are you going to decorate it? With whom are you going to share it, and upon what terms?’
This was the first time in history that women could not only ask such questions but also decide for themselves what the answers should be.
Today, in the 21st century, we can see evidence of the answers everywhere. Women have taken up positions in every imaginable profession. Across the globe women have achieved high office, good pay and significant influence.
And yet for all this progress full equality for women is not yet won.
It requires more work – work from my generation and work from yours.
I know that those of you here today are studying at an institution that encourages women to assume leadership; to become critical thinkers and concerned citizens who can contribute new perspectives to the world of knowledge.
I know too that although the challenges facing women in India and Australia share some commonalities there are also many significant differences. You are in the fortunate position of being able to make your voice count as you, along with your contemporaries around the world, continue the drive for equality and address the big questions facing your generation.
This wonderful college is—and I use your words—‘permeated by an enlightened feminism that is confident of women finding their place in the sun’.
Take that sun with you when you leave this place and make it shine wherever your life leads.