Second Reading Speech
Mr TUDGE (Aston - Minister for Education and Youth)I move:
That this bill be now read a second time.
The Higher Education Support Amendment (Extending the Student Loan Fee Exemption) Bill 2021 builds on the government's commitment to support students, providers and the broader economy through the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Schedule 1of the billamends the Higher Education Support Act 2003 to extend the exemption from FEE-HELP loan fees for approximately 30,000 undergraduate students mostly studying at private providers for a further six months. This exemption originally commenced on 1 April 2020 and will now continue through to 31 December 2021.
The Australian government is committed to supporting the higher education sector and ensuring that all Australians can access high-quality educational opportunities that provide the job-ready skills they need to enter the workforce. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government understands that students and higher education providers alike have been put under significant financial pressure.
The FEE-HELP loan fee exemption will encourage students to continue or commence study for the remainder of 2021 and, in doing so, will support providers to continue delivering the high quality education necessary for Australia to recover economically from the COVID-19 pandemic.
I commend this bill to the House.
Debate adjourned.
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