House of Representatives

Explanatory Memorandum

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

Higher Education Legislation Amendment (2005 Budget Measures) Bill 2005

Outline

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

•

section 30-5 under the Commonwealth Grant Scheme to provide for 100 new places in Veterinary Science and Tropical Agriculture at James Cook University commencing in 2006; and

•

section 41-45 for Other Grants to provide for $25 million in capital infrastructure funding over 3 years from 2006 to expand facilities for students at the University of Western Sydney at several campuses and improve teaching and research capacity;

to deliver on election commitments for the years 2006-2008.

The Bill will also amend the HESA to revise the maximum funding amounts in:

•

section 30-5 under the Commonwealth Grant Scheme;

•

section 41-45 for Other Grants; and

•

section 46-40 for Commonwealth Scholarships

to reflect indexation increases for the years 2006-08 and add a new funding year 2009.

The Bill amends the maximum funding amounts under section 110A of the Higher Education Funding Act 1988 (HEFA) to reflect indexation increases for transition funding for the years 2006-07.

Financial Impact

In relation to the Higher Education Support Act 2003 , the Bill:

-

increases the overall appropriation by $5,722.7million for the period 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2009

In relation to the Higher Education Funding Act 1988 , the Bill:

-

increases the overall appropriation by $0.3 million for the period 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2007