Chapter 4
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Repayment of loans
PART 4-1
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INDEBTEDNESS
Division 144
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Special measures for location-preferred HELP debtors
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health practitioners
History
Div 144 inserted by No 3 of 2023, s 3 and Sch 2 item 30, effective 21 February 2023. No 3 of 2023, s 3 and Sch 2 items 39 and 40 contain the following application, saving and transitional provisions:
Part 2
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Application, saving and transitional provisions
39 Application of amendments
(1)
The amendments of sections
142-10
and
142-15
of the
Higher Education Support Act 2003
made by this Schedule apply in relation to applications under those sections that are received by the Secretary on or after the commencement of this item.
(2)
Subsection
144-5(1)
of the
Higher Education Support Act 2003
, as inserted by this Part, applies in relation to the 2021-2022 financial year and each later financial year.
(3)
Despite subsection
144-5(2)
of the
Higher Education Support Act 2003
, as inserted by this Schedule, a day that occurs before 1 January 2022 must not be counted for the purposes of that subsection.
(4)
Section 144-10 of the
Higher Education Support Act 2003
, as inserted by this Schedule, applies in relation to a course of study whether completed before or after the commencement of this Schedule.
(5)
Despite paragraph
144-10(1)(a)
of the
Higher Education Support Act 2003
, as inserted by this Schedule, the Secretary must not determine that a person was a location-preferred HELP debtor (health practitioner) in relation to a course of study for a period if any part of the period occurred before 1 January 2022.
40 Saving provisions
(1)
A person who was a very remote HELP debtor immediately before the commencement of this Schedule is taken, on and after that commencement, to be a location-preferred HELP debtor (teacher).
(2)
Very Remote HELP Debtor Guidelines made under subsection
238-10(1)
of the
Higher Education Support Act 2003
that were in force immediately before the commencement of this Schedule continue in force (and may be dealt with) as if they were HELP Debtor Guidelines (Teachers) made under that subsection as amended by this Schedule.
SECTION 144-20
Reviews of this Division
144-20(1)
The Minister must cause to be conducted independent reviews of the operation of this Division before:
(a)
1 July 2025; and
(b)
1 July 2028.
144-20(1A)
Each review must consider, and make recommendations to the Commonwealth Government about, the expansion of the policy implemented by this Division to other sectors of high skills need in rural, remote and very remote Australia, including the health, mental health and education sectors.
144-20(1B)
Each review should consult with rural and remote communities and their health, mental health and education service providers and specifically, the following must be consulted as part of each review:
(a)
the National Rural Health Commissioner;
(b)
the Regional Education Commissioner.
Report
144-20(2)
The Minister must cause to be prepared a report of each review under subsection
(1)
within 3 months of the commencement of the relevant review.
144-20(3)
The Minister must cause a copy of the report to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the completion of the report.
Response to report
144-20(4)
The Minister must:
(a)
prepare a written statement in response to the report; and
(b)
cause a copy of the statement to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 30 sitting days of that House after the copy of the report is tabled in that House.
History
S 144-20 inserted by No 3 of 2023, s 3 and Sch 2 item 30, effective 21 February 2023. For application, saving and transitional provisions, see note under Div
144
heading.