What are the terms of reference for the inter-departmental committee established with the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs to address the identified problems and issues associated with the administration of overseas student visas via the Migration Act and of providers of international education services by means of the Education Services for Overseas Students (Registration of Providers and Financial Regulation) Act.

The Department believes that the inter-departmental committee (IDC) to which Senator Carr refers is one established at the request of the Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs to address international education issues. This IDC has been established to promote a whole-of-government approach to advance Australia's involvement in international education.

The committee includes representation from: the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs (DETYA); the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA); Austrade; AusAID; the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT); the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C); and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR). The Australian Tourist Commission (ATC) and the Department of Health and Aged Care may also be represented on an ad hoc basis.

The IDC will address a broad range of issues related to international education. These are likely to include the administration of student visas via the Migration Act and of providers of international education services by means of the Education Services for Overseas Students (Registration of Providers and Financial Regulation) Act.

The terms of reference for the IDC are to:

Coordinate activities across Commonwealth agencies to ensure that the Government's objective of enhancing the export of Australian education services is achieved with maximum efficiency and effectiveness;

Act as a conduit for information sharing and cross portfolio communication on matters relating to the export of Australia's education services;

Discuss and provide coordinated input to any Commonwealth policy initiative that may affect overseas students and the internationalisation/export of Australia's education services; and

Consider means by which the administration of Commonwealth policy is made as conducive as possible to the development of Australia's education exports.