ACARA | FOIs LEX 81815 and 82204

Question

Senator ROBERTS: Thank you. Freedom of information LEX 81815 and 82204 appear to show that ACARA are adding the United Nations UNESCO Greening Education Partnership to the curriculum, which requires the inclusion of nationally determined contributions in the curriculum. This suggests you're not dialling back but doubling down on the propaganda. Why are you pushing indoctrination over education? Mr Gniel: Senator, I probably have to reject most of the assumptions that you've made in that question. To go to your question, you mentioned the numbers related to an FOI. Can you just explain to me what that FOI is and if you've got a copy of it for us. Senator ROBERTS: I don't. Mr Gniel: Right. I think, Senator, you'd appreciate- Senator ROBERTS: I can't get across everything-every FOI that we cite. My staff make sure it's-but I'll get it to you. Mr Gniel: Great. I think the chair has asked for the previous one as well. If you can provide those for us then I think we'd be in a better position to be able to answer. I'm happy to take that one on notice, but I do want to make sure that it's also on notice that I do not agree with the assumptions about us indoctrinating children. The Australian Curriculum is a promise we make to our children. It is approved by all Australian ministers- Commonwealth, state and territory. So I completely reject those statements. CHAIR: Perhaps you can work with the secretariat to lodge the original document with the question on notice. Senator ROBERTS: Certainly. The UNESCO Greening Education Partnership is a voluntary global initiative launched in 2022 aimed at integrating climate change education and sustainability across education systems. Did you check the scientific basis for the greening education program and, in particular, climate change education, or did you just take what the UN is feeding you? Mr Gniel: We haven't taken-I mean, this is where, Senator, I really need you to provide the information you're basing this on so I can provide the answer appropriately. Senator ROBERTS: It's really simple: did you just take what the United Nations claims is science and put that into the curriculum, or did you do your due diligence? Mr Gniel: Once you've provided me with the details about specifics of what you're talking about, I'm very happy to provide you an answer. Senator ROBERTS: That was the previous question. Now I'm talking about a very simple question: did you take the UN propaganda or UN material on climate science, or did you do the due diligence on it? Mr Gniel: Senator, again, if you provide the specifics on that, I can then give you an answer on the specifics. But I can give you a general answer, which is that the Australian Curriculum is based on the evidence that we gather as part of the process for both the development of the curriculum and also its review, and that's taken through the ACARA board and on to ministers for their approval. As you would expect, they are very keen to make sure it is based on the evidence, and that's what we have in the Australian Curriculum. Senator ROBERTS: By 'evidence' you mean scientific proof? Mr Gniel: Again, Senator, I think 'scientific proof' is a fairly broad term, if I can put it that way. I'd like to see the specific one that you're asking about. Senator ROBERTS: Earlier this year in a Senate inquiry, I asked a senior UN executive in charge of information to provide the scientific proof. She failed to provide it. What she gave me was complete crap. What due diligence did you do on the United Nations material? Mr Gniel: I think I've answered that, Senator. I'm happy to take on notice, when you provide the specific example of what you've asked me to check, whether we've put that and used that in the Australian Curriculum. I'm very happy to. Senator ROBERTS: You'll get it. Mr Gniel: Great. Thank you, Senator. CHAIR: Thanks, Senator Roberts. I'm confirming you've finished your block of questions and are happy to move on and you'll provide that documentation and your questions on notice to the witness. I'm coming back to the opposition, and then I'll come to Senator Hodgins-May.

Answer

Please see the attached PDF.

Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• SQ26-000736.pdf (opens in a new tab)