Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

This is actually a very serious question from Senator Ruston, because, if these reforms are not passed—if the opponents of the reforms continue to stand in the way of what all the higher education peak bodies agree is essential for a healthy future for higher education—they are going to be standing in the way of tens of thousands of disadvantaged students who could, for example, benefit from the Commonwealth Scholarships. They are standing in the way of 80,000 students who should have Commonwealth support for their studies. They are standing in the way of another 80,000 students who should not have to pay the unfair VET FEE-HELP loan fee. They are standing in the way of another 50,000 students who should not have to pay the unfair FEE-HELP loan fee. They are standing in the way of 1,500 jobs that depend on the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy. They are standing in the way of the funding of the mid-career Future Fellowships for researchers. It absolutely beggars the imagination that those opposite are not interested in ensuring the future of higher education— (Time expired)