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

I think I agree with my colleague, Senator Cormann. I think that may be a version of Greens mathematics with which I am not familiar! What I can actually indicate to the Senate is that for the first time students who wish to take up opportunities in organisations, including private institutions, will have Commonwealth-funded opportunities and support to do that. We actually think an expansion to perhaps an extra 80,000 students by 2018 is an extraordinary opportunity for those wishing to take up study.

It may be through a diploma, an associate diploma or another sub-bachelor qualification; but that diversity, that choice, that opportunity and that support from the Commonwealth has not previously been available to those students. We intend to change that. We intend to make sure that students who might not otherwise have had the chance to study in higher education can now do that, no matter where they come from—whether it is lower socioeconomic areas or elsewhere. (Time expired)