QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WALSH (Victoria—Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth) (14:30): I thank the senator for her question. In relation to the report that you reference, which relates to fossil fuel industry approaches on the curriculum, it's probably important to outline what the Commonwealth's role is in relation to these matters. Our role is one of leadership in setting and advocating for what the national priorities are in education and what the national priorities are for the curriculum.

One of the national priorities for the curriculum is sustainability. That is one of three cross-curriculum national priorities. At the same time, it is really the states and territories who are responsible for managing and regulating schools, and that includes how curriculum is delivered.

It includes what resources and what programs are used in our schools. It is at that level of government that decisions are made around teaching materials, around partnerships and around programs, along with education authorities and the schools themselves. Beyond that, we value the work of the nation's teachers.

We value the work of the nation's educators. We trust our teachers. We trust our educators to use their professional discretion to tailor learning to students in the classroom.

Again, it's important to understand that our role as the Commonwealth is in setting and advocating for the national priorities in education. The PRESIDENT: Senator Hodgins-May, first supplementary?