Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Hansard source

The government will not be supporting Senator Hinch's amendment. We appreciate the intent behind the amendment. Senator Hinch did just acknowledge that the government has moved from proposals in previous reform packages to what will now be nearly $46,000 in terms of the starting threshold on 1 July next year. I reiterate that one of the important things that we've done is to apply a steady schedule in the repayment rate. We think that steady schedule is important to the thresholds at which it adjusts, which we hope will stop some of the clustering that we've seen around certain income bands under previous proposals. We thank Senator Hinch for proposing the amendment and for his engagement with us on the bill, but we are not in a position to support his amendment at this time.

The CHAIR: The question is that amendment (1) on sheet 8410, as moved by Senator Hinch, be agreed to.