Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Indi for her question. It's a very important question because we do have to lift the attainment rates in regional and rural areas. I know that, like her, the members for Grey, Forrest, Barker, Murray, Parkes, Gippsland, Durack and all the regional and rural members on this side of the House want to lift that attainment rate. That is why we commissioned the former Premier of Victoria, Denis Napthine, to undertake his review.

He has handed down an incredibly comprehensive review with seven key recommendations: first, improve access to tertiary study options for students in regional, rural and remote areas; second, improve access to financial support to support greater fairness and more equal opportunity; third, improve the quality and range of student support services; fourth, build aspiration—and I know that's something all of us want to see when it comes to regional and rural students; fifth, improve participation and outcomes for regional, rural and remote students from equity groups, including low SES students; sixth, strengthen the role of tertiary education providers in regional development and grow Australia's region; and, finally, establish mechanisms to coordinate the implementation effort and support monitoring of the strategy.

The Morrison government has agreed to all of these recommendations and will over time begin implementing.

See this speech in context