The Tamil community is calling on the Australian Government to recognise Tamil as a Priority Asian Language under the proposed National Asia Capability Strategy, arguing that its current classification would leave Tamil students without the same educational opportunities and support available to students studying four other languages.
In a petition addressed to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Education Minister Jason Clare and Minister for Multicultural Affairs Anne Aly, Tamil education organisations have called for Tamil to be elevated from a “Supported Language” to a “Priority Language”.
The campaign follows recommendations made in June 2026 by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education for a 10-year National Asia Capability Strategy. The Committee identified Mandarin, Indonesian, Hindi and Japanese as four priority Asian languages, while placing Tamil in the supported category.
The petition argues that the distinction has significant consequences for students, including access to direct Commonwealth investment, Asian Language Hubs, university course protection, targeted teacher supply and a proposed nationally consistent five-point ATAR bonus for Year 12 students.
It says a student who studies Tamil from preschool through to Year 12 could miss out on the proposed ATAR bonus, while a student studying a designated Priority Language would be eligible.
“We are not asking for anything to be taken from other languages. We are asking for Tamil to be judged by the same standards, and given the same opportunity.”
The petition sets out six key demands, including designating Tamil as a Priority Asian Language, publishing the criteria for Priority status and assessing Tamil against those criteria transparently.
It also calls for Tamil students to have access to the proposed ATAR bonus and university pathways, alongside investment in teachers, learning resources and community language schools.
The campaign is seeking the development of a national Tamil curriculum through the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), drawing on existing work in Western Australia and resources developed by the NSW Federation of Tamil Schools.
According to the petition, the NSW Federation has developed learning resources from Pre-Kindy to Year 10 and is working on materials for Years 11 and 12. Its affiliated schools across NSW, the ACT, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory teach around 5,000 students.
Tamil is already taught through the Collaborative Curriculum and Assessment Framework for Languages (CCAFL) in NSW, the ACT and Victoria. Western Australia has developed a Tamil curriculum from Pre-primary to Year 10, as well as Year 11 and 12 ATAR courses.
The petition urges education ministers to consult Tamil educational organisations and use these existing resources and programmes when implementing the proposed strategy.
The campaign also makes an economic and strategic case for recognising Tamil, highlighting its significance across South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean region.
Tamil is an official language in Sri Lanka and Singapore, as well as in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, which has a population of nearly 78 million.
The petition points to Australia’s trade and investment relationships with India, Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, arguing that Tamil language capability could help strengthen business, education, tourism and diplomatic links.
It cites two-way trade between Australia and India of $54.4 billion in goods and services in 2024–25, trade with Singapore of $47.4 billion in 2024, and trade with Malaysia of $33 billion in 2023–24.
It also highlights Tamil Nadu’s economic significance, including its manufacturing and export industries, particularly electronics and automobiles.
“A language spoken across the factories of Chennai, the boardrooms of Singapore and the ports of the Indian Ocean is a national economic asset, not just a community heritage.”
The petition also refers to the growing number of Australians who speak Tamil at home. It cites the 2021 Census figure of 95,404 Tamil speakers, an increase of approximately 30 per cent over five years.
It says the parliamentary committee recognised growing demand for South Asian languages, including Tamil, and observed that this demand could become “one of the more sustainable sources of Asia capability in the country”.
The campaign argues that Tamil already has a student base and community education infrastructure in Australia, and that these should be recognised in the national strategy.
The petition is seeking 15,000 signatures by 30 November 2026, with an overall target of 50,000. It encourages Tamil speakers and supporters of language and cultural diversity to sign and share the campaign.
The campaign has been issued by the NSW Federation of Tamil Schools Inc and Balar Malar Tamil Educational Association Inc, alongside other Tamil education organisations.
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