MARK COLVIN: Leading business, union and academic bodies have formed a new alliance to promote Asian language and cultural studies in Australian schools and universities. The Business Alliance for Asia Literacy was launched in Melbourne today in an attempt to address this country's patchy commitment to learning about our neighbours.
The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, today invited primary and secondary schools to apply for grants under the $6.24 million Becoming Asia Literate: Grants to Schools program which opens today.