Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I think Senator Mason used half of his time in his question reading out the titles, so we will have to see if we can do an abbreviation. I thank the senator for the question. We have strong bipartisan support for the development of an Australian curriculum and I understand it is progressing well. The time frame agreed by education ministers for implementation is on track and the commitment remains strong. Australian curriculum for English, mathematics, science and history from kindergarten to year 10 will be ready for implementation from 2011 and will be substantially implemented by the end of 2013. As the senator would know, implementation is a matter for those individual jurisdictions.

The senator refers to some press coverage that was sparked by a statement by an officeholder of the RSL the other day. I want to confirm that the Australian curriculum will help students learn about the Anzac tradition of Gallipoli, Anzac Day and other important events and symbols in Australian history. The draft Australian history curriculum for years 11 and 12 was released for public consultation earlier this year. Feedback has now been considered by the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority, the expert body overseeing the development of the Australian curriculum. This government thinks that it is important for children to understand the service and sacrifice of the men and women who served Australia in wars and in peace operations, and obviously it will continue to do so. But it is the case that that feedback process is occurring. I am advised though by ACARA that there is no intention of diminishing the role war memorials and commemorative events play in recognising Australia’s fallen heroes and the way their spirit of sacrifice connects our past to the present. (Time expired)