PATRICIA KARVELAS: We are one quarter of the way through this federal election campaign. Today has seen further debate on Medicare and a promise to cut down on pollies perks. Simon Birmingham is a Liberal Senator for South Australia and the Education Minister; welcome back to RN drive. SIMON BIRMINGHAM: G’day Patricia, it’s great to be with…
DetailsLUCY WICKS MP: Well, good morning everyone. This is an incredibly great day for the Central Coast; an incredibly great day for the future of the Central Coast, because I think today is the realisation of a dream that many people have asked for, have wanted, have advocated. A dream to see a public university campus…
DetailsSIMON BIRMINGHAM: Lucy Wicks has brought me to the region today. Lucy has been telling me for quite some time now about the wonderful coding programme that is operating here and it is great to be able to see this in action. It is an example of many different coding and STEM initiatives that are happening…
DetailsSCOTT LEVI: Obviously a big announcement to be made today and I think it might have something to do with the hospital and the university but, I’m not going to steal your thunder; what can you tell us? SIMON BIRMINGHAM: Well Scott, yes indeed you are on the money there that we are indeed announcing today that…
DetailsSALLY WARHAFT: A new report suggests that many mothers are left working for – well maybe $5 an hour by the time they’ve paid for their childcare needs. Simon Birmingham is the Education Minister and Minister responsible for childcare and he joins us now; good morning, Minister. SIMON BIRMINGHAM: Good morning, Sally and good morning to your…
DetailsALI CLARK: We are talking about this report that has been handed down by the Australian Council of Educational Research. Professor Geoff Masters is my guest, he has analysed this report and has found five challenges in the Australian school education system. Simon Birmingham has actually picked up the phone and called in, the Federal Education…
DetailsJULIE DOYLE: Minister, thanks for coming in today. Lets talk firstly about Labor’s focus today has been about $1.8 billion in funding to close the gap between regional and city schools; what’s the Government’s plan to do that? SIMON BIRMINGHAM: Well Julie, this is yet another repackaging of the very old announcement from the Labor party in…
DetailsINTERVIEWER: Minister, can you confirm, Anthony Albanese says this is money was promised, then Tony Abbott didn’t like it so it was shifted to freight at Goodwood, now Malcolm Turnbull likes trains, its coming back to be used for this purpose, is that a fair timeline? SIMON BIRMINGHAM: Well I’m surprised Anthony Albanese is being so negative…
DetailsEMMA ALBERICI: Education funding was indeed the subject of our poll this week. We asked you whether more money would improve outcomes in Australian schools. History doesn't find a relationship between funding and performance. The first tests comparing international school achievements were conducted in the year 2000. Back then, Australia ranked 6th for maths, 8th for…
DetailsAlan Jones: Simon Birmingham, good morning. Simon Birmingham: Good morning Alan, good to be with you. Alan Jones: Thank you. How do these arguments stack up? On the one hand, a wonderful articulation of the fact that spending more money doesn’t produce appropriate educational outcomes, and then in the next breath you spend more money. Simon Birmingham:…
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