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

I thank Senator Ruston for her question and her interest in this issue. The government's higher education reform package will bring very significant benefits for Australian students. As we all know, no student will have to pay a cent up-front for their course and no-one will need to repay a cent until they are earning over $50,000 a year. What universities and other higher education providers will have to do is to compete for students and that will be to the benefit of students, frankly. For the first time, the Commonwealth will be supporting all Australian undergraduate students in all registered higher education institutions in their higher education diplomas, advanced diplomas and associate degrees as well as in bachelor degrees. For the first time, all of those students will be supported by the Commonwealth.

The expansion of the demand-driven system in that way will benefit over 80,000 students a year by 2018. And another 80,000 students who are studying in vocational education and training will benefit through the abolition of the 20 per cent loan fee for VET FEE-HELP. We are abolishing the 25 per cent loan fee for FEE-HELP as well which will benefit another 50,000 students. Of course, the Commonwealth scholarship scheme will provide what will be the largest scholarship support in Australia's history for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. These reforms mean that students will be able to get the education of the quality they want, a truly world-class education in the courses they want, with the support they want, at a price they are willing to pay. It is a complete mystery to me why those opposite want to deny Australian students that chance and that opportunity.