“In May 2015 my department initiated a formal review into six school authorities affiliated with the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) following ongoing concerns about their independence, financial management and governance arrangements. “As a result of this review, on 13 November 2015, my department issued a Notice of proposed decision to each of the…
Question: Could you explain the decision here- why the decision’s been made to revoke the funding? Simon Birmingham: Well, today we’ve made the decision to revoke funding to the Islamic School of Canberra where this is a school that is part of six that are affiliated with the Australian Federation of Islamic Organisations and what…
Kieran Gilbert: We’re going to turn to politics now, and tax change is once again at the centre of the political debate as Parliament resumes again today. With me now Education Minister Simon Birmingham to discuss this and the other matters of the day. Senator Birmingham, thanks for your time. Apparently the Prime Minister consulting…
Sheridan Stewart: I have Senator Simon Birmingham on the line, Minister for Education and Training. Good morning Simon. Simon Birmingham: Good morning Sheridan, and good morning to your listeners. Sheridan Stewart: What’s your response to the concerns of the remote children’s services as expressed there by operator Vicki Olds? Simon Birmingham: I understand that this is a…
Simon Birmingham: Thank you so very much Jenny. I thought I’d start with a little of Dorothea Mackellar’s most famous words. I love a sunburnt country and a land of sweeping plains, of rugged mountain ranges, of droughts, of flooding rains. I love her far horizons, I love her jewel-sea, her beauty and her terror,…
Simon Birmingham: Thanks very much for that introduction, and thank you all for coming along today. It's a real delight to be with you. And can I commence by also acknowledging Australia's traditional owners and in particular the Ngunnawal people, the traditional owners of the Canberra region and as Education Minister acknowledge that we continue…