2UE Sydney

E&OE TRANSCRIPT 2UE Sydney with Justin Smith Monday 13 October 2014 JUSTIN SMITH:      It was called the controversial review of the national curriculum, it has now been released, I’m not sure how controversial it is. Some of the key recommendations say reduce overcrowding in the curriculum, especially in early primary years. Greater focus on literacy and numeracy in primary curriculum. It all seems pretty standard stuff. There don’t seem to be a lot of critics of it. Christopher Pyne, Education Minister is on the line. Minister, thanks for your time. CHRISTOPHER PYNE:     Justin, thank you for having me. JUSTIN SMITH:      No, I appreciate you taking time out of your day here. What do you think, you’re going to adopt all the recommendations, are you happy with all of it? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:     I’m very happy with the review, Justin, and what I now have to do is convince the states and the territories that we should all collaboratively implement this together, because they run the schools. So what I’ve done is release an initial Australian Government response, to send a very strong signal to the states and territories that we’re open to discussion about the findings of the review. Effectively the review says that we need to go back to basics; that in primary school, the current curriculum is too cluttered. That it has great breadth but not depth. And we should be focusing more on history, English, math, and science. That we should try and have the content not being dictated by the themes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Islander culture, Australia’s place in Asia and sustainability, but in fact have the themes fitting in with the content. And that it needs to be more parent friendly, to engage more parents in their childrens’ education, by producing a national curriculum that is easy to understand and follows your [indistinct]. JUSTIN SMITH:      Do you think the states are going to come along with this? You’re confident? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:     Well I’ve been very pleased with the response so far, since I released it on Sunday. All the states and territories seem very open to talking about how we might fine-tune the national curriculum. The Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority would be responsible for that. So I’ve asked them for their feedback. But of course all the states and territories and ACARA were involved in the review from the beginning, in January, so you would hope that we will not have to have any kind of drawn-out battle, and in fact will be able to collaborate, and as I’ve described, be Captain(*) Cooperative on this issue. JUSTIN SMITH:      Well, will they – say, for New South Wales for example. Will it cost this state any more money to implement these recommendations? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:     Well, it shouldn’t because the Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority has a brief to continuously implement new subjects as part of the national curriculum. The Commonwealth funds the Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority. The states and territories make a contribution. We’re not suggesting the national curriculum be thrown out and started again, we’re saying – well, this review is saying, that it should be the foundation. But that it can be improved – given that’s the case, why wouldn’t we want to improve it. JUSTIN SMITH:      That’s how you see it, Minister, but will state education ministers see it being as cheap as all that? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:     I… JUSTIN SMITH:      This might come as a galloping shock to you, but states like to put their hand out sometimes to you guys, and… CHRISTOPHER PYNE:     Well, they do, and we’ve always been very supportive of the states and territories, and we are the level of government that does collect most of the taxes and then distribute them to the states, so I’m sure that won’t be an impediment, Justin, to having a good outcome for our students, because that’s the most important thing. That our kids in schools get the best outcomes possible. JUSTIN SMITH:      Of these key recommendations, what do you think is the quickest that we can implement? What would you like to get done first? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:  Well, probably the governance of ACARA. But that’s not the most important review suggestion. I think all of it needs to be seen as a holistic response, probably for 2016, probably be too late for 2015. But I don’t think it’s too late for 2016, and I think the states and territories will want to work with us. I’ve been very pleased with the response from Catholic schools, independent schools, principal’s associations. Even the Labor opposition have indicated that they believe the review contains good suggestions to change the national curriculum. So it’s possible that we might have everyone on board. JUSTIN SMITH:      A hell of a day. CHRISTOPHER PYNE:     A hell of a day! A red-letter day. JUSTIN SMITH:      Minister, I thank you for your time. If you don’t mind though, one without notice. Are you comfortable with Vladimir Putin coming for the G20? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:     Well, he’s a G20 leader. It’s not really up to Australia to exclude him. Am I comfortable with it? The Prime Minister’s made it very clear that he intends to shirtfront Vladimir Putin at the G20 and demand answers from him over the murder of 38 Australians, and that’s perfectly appropriate that he should do so. It’s an opportunity for us to in fact express concern with the approach that the Russians have taken to MH17, and to stop backing rebels in the Ukraine who are killing Australians like they did with… JUSTIN SMITH:      Yes, absolutely. Can you just explain to people though, what is a G20 shirtfront? I mean, how does that – it’s a good active and strong word to use, but how does that play out in reality, what does that mean? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:  Well, that will be a meeting between Tony Abbott and Vladimir Putin; it’s called a bilateral meeting between the President and the Prime Minister. In fact, they’re both called Prime Ministers; I think there’s another President in Russia called Medvedev [sic]. The two Prime Ministers [sic] will meet, and Tony Abbott will put his view very firmly on behalf of the Australian people as he’s becoming very famous for doing. JUSTIN SMITH:      Good talking to you, thank you Minister. CHRISTOPHER PYNE:     Thank you, Justin. [ends]