House of Representatives

Explanatory Memorandum

Circulated By Authority of the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations

Outline

The Bill will amend the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA) to revise the maximum funding amounts in:

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section 30-5 for the Commonwealth Grant Scheme;

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section 41-45 for Other Grants; and

•

section 46-40 for Commonwealth scholarships

to reflect supplementation for indexation increases and 2010-11 Budget decisions.

The Bill will amend section 30-5 of HESA to provide for changes to the maximum grant amounts under the Commonwealth Grant Scheme for 2010 and 2011 to take account of movements in indexation and increases in funding resulting from the lifting of the cap on over enrolments for 2010 and 2011 from 5 per cent to 10 per cent as part of the transition to a student centred funding system from 2012.

The Bill will amend section 41-45 of HESA to vary the maximum payments for grants under Part 2-3 of HESA to reflect 2010-11 Budget measures for a 20 per cent reduction in funding from the Australian and Learning Teaching Council and the cessation of the Graduate Skills Assessment Program; and to take account of movements in indexation and to include funding for the 2014 year.

The Bill will amend section 46-40 of HESA to increase the maximum grants payable under Part 2-4 to take account of movements in indexation and to include funding for the 2014 year.