House of Representatives

Explanatory Memorandum

(Circulated by authority of the Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Honourable Dr Brendan Nelson MP)

Schedule 1 - Amendments relating to grants for higher education assistance

Higher Education Support Act 2003

Item 1 Paragraphs 30-5(1)(a) to (d)

Amends paragraphs 30-5(1)(a), (b), (c) and (d) to vary the level of maximum grants under the Commonwealth Grant Scheme (Part 2-2) for the years 2005-2008 to reflect additional funding for 100 new places for radiation therapy, a further 40 aged care nursing places, additional medical places for James Cook University and the transfer of funding from the Commonwealth Grants Scheme to Other Grants (National Institute Funds) (section 41-45 refers) to allow the Australian Maritime College to utilise funds for infrastructure development at Point Nepean that had previously been intended for new places in 2005.

Item 2 Subsection 41-10(1) (cell at table item 5, column headed "Who is eligible")

Has the effect of extending the eligibility for grants to support the capital development of projects of higher education providers, to Table B providers.

Item 3 Subsection 41-45(1) (table)

Amends the table in subsection 41-5(1) to vary the maximum payments for Other Grants under Part 2-3 for the years 2005-2008 to reflect the transfer of funding from the Commonwealth Grants Scheme to Other Grants (National Institute Funds) for 2005 for the purposes described for item 1; infrastructure funding for Charles Darwin University and James Cook University through the Capital Development Pool; and National Institute funding for the Australian National University.