Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

We appreciate Senator Henderson's concerns for the government's welfare. It's much appreciated, Senator Henderson, but the government will be opposing this amendment. We have already stated the startup year will commence with a 12-month pilot program. The opposition amendment seeks to artificially limit the pilot to three universities. In our view, this will restrict the effectiveness of the pilot and runs contrary to the opposition's earlier amendment that regions must be included in this program.

The draft guidelines make it clear that a working group will be convened, as recommended in the consultation process, to advise on the pilot program and their work together with the departments. This should not be artificially limited by the opposition's amendment. And the government will oppose it.

Just on some other clarity that Senator Henderson might find helpful, it is the view of the government that universities will be able to apply to conduct courses in the second half of this year. We would then imagine students starting in February next year. That would be the time line that we'd be working towards.