Supplementary Explanatory Memorandum
Glossary
The following abbreviations and acronyms are used throughout this supplementary explanatory memorandum.
| Abbreviation | Definition |
| ABN | Australian Business Number |
| ACNC | Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission |
| DGR | deductible gift recipient |
| NFP | Not-for-profit |
| the Bill | Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Bill 2012 |
Outline
The Higher Education Support Amendment (Streamlining and Other Measures) Bill 2012 as introduced amends the Higher Education Support Act 2003 to:
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- act on the recommendations arising from the Post Implementation Review of the VET FEE-HELP Scheme Final Report September 2011 and its commitments under the April 2012 COAG National Partnership Agreement on Skills Reform, particularly the redesign of VET FEE-HELP
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- strengthen the integrity and quality framework underpinning the HELP schemes
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- improve information sharing and transparency with the national education regulators
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- improve arrangements for the early identification of low quality providers
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- position the Government to better manage risk to students and public monies.
The Government amendments to the Bill will amend the Social Security Act 1991 to allow a freeze of indexation on the Student Start-up Scholarship for the period 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2016. Consequently, the maximum amount payable under the Student Start-up Scholarship will remain at the 2012 rate of $2,050 until 1 January 2017.
Financial impact
There are no financial impacts associated with the Bill as introduced.
The Government amendments to the Bill are estimated to achieve savings of $82.1 million over four years.
Notes on clauses
Amendment 1 - Commencement
Amendment 1 amends the commencement provision in relation to Schedule 3A of the Bill. Schedule 3A will commence on the day the Act receives Royal Assent.
Amendment 2
Amendment 2 adds Schedule 3A to the Bill.
Schedule 3A - Student start-up scholarship payments
Social Security Act 1991
Item 1 repeals and substitutes the note under section 592H of the Social Security Act 1991 (the Act) to provide that the amount of the Student Start-up Scholarship payment will be indexed on 1 January 2017 and each later 1 January in line with CPI increases.
Item 2 inserts new subsection 1192(8A) into the Act to provide that the Student Start-up Scholarship payment is not indexed on 1 January 2013, 1 January 2014, 1 January 2015 and 1 January 2016.