Download Fragment

Thursday, 10 May 2012
Page: 4609

Careers in Agriculture

Debate resumed on motion by Dr Stone:

That this House:

(1) notes that the Australian agricultural industry offers excellent career opportunities, including:

(a) approximately 100,000 jobs in the agricultural sector;

(b) 2.5 jobs for every agricultural graduate; and

(c) a diverse range of careers requiring a wide range of skill levels;

(2) acknowledges that responding to the expanding global food task will require Australia to substantially upskill and increase the size of its agribusiness workforce;

(3) recognises that there are declining participation rates and graduates in the agriculture sector as tertiary agricultural science courses offerings decline, and secondary school students do not take up undergraduate courses; and

(4) calls on the Government to:

(a) resource the promotion of careers in agriculture through the primary and secondary school system;

(b) provide incentives for universities to offer agricultural science courses; and

(c) encourage industry in the development of agribusiness educational and training resource material.

Question agreed to.