BY JODY BETZIEN
MELBOURNE — Appearing alongside World Trade Organisation director-general Mike Moore during his February 6 visit here, federal trade minister Mark Vaile has announced a new government program to convince school students that "free trade and globalisation are the keys to Australia's economic prosperity".
The program is part of a $60 million package entitled "Exporting for the Future", designed to redress growing criticism of neo-liberal globalisation.
Vaile complained to his audience of high school students and journalists, "only 40% of Australians believe exports have a positive impact on their lives".
Vaile said that employees in export industries are paid $17,400 per year more than non-exporting industries, and that they are more likely to be permanent full-time staff working in safer conditions.
He failed to mention, however, that most export industries are large and capital-intensive ones, like mining and heavy manufacturing, and are more likely to be unionised — a more likely explanation for higher wages and better conditions.
The minister claimed that the program is about explaining things "Joe Average on the street does not know and understand".
The program is to be trialed in 20 secondary schools from June. Curriculum Corporation, the national organisation responsible for providing curriculum support to schools, said that it was unaware of the program, however, as did the Australian Education Union.
Moore, a former Labor prime minister of New Zealand, expressed his support for the program, saying "Most people are ignorant of the WTO's role, blaming it for the worlds economic woes".
High school students in Melbourne, however, are stepping up their participation in plans for a May 1 blockade of Melbourne's stock exchange. They are planning a February 15 action outside the department of education to demand that "Exporting for the Future" be excluded from school curricula.