Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Services) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, I am, and I would like to say thank you to all the Liberal and Nationals MPs and senators who've fought very, very hard for these initiatives over the past five years. The announcement today brings the total support for rural and regional students that is provided by this government to over $400 million, including $152 million for a regional student access to education package, which includes $45 million for isolated children's education. This support includes over $96 million in response to the 11 recommendations of Professor Halsey's Independent Review into Regional, Rural and Remote Education. That response saw $28 million to fund around 500 additional commencing sub-bachelor degrees and to enable Commonwealth support of places in 2019, growing to 688 by 2020, and nearly $54 million to ease financial pressures of families in regional communities by increasing the parental income cut-off. Students from regional and rural Australia can rely on our government. (Time expired)