Message from the Governor-General recommending appropriation for requested amendments announced.

Bill returned from the Senate with requested amendments.

Ordered that the requested amendments be considered immediately.

Senate’s requested amendments—

(1)    Schedule 2, Part 1, page 24 (after line 33), at the end of the Part, add:

4A Transitional rule for student scholarship start-up payment

(1)    Subsection 592G(1) of the Social Security Act 1991 does not prevent a person from being qualified exactly twice in 2010 for a student start-up scholarship payment if:

             (a)    the person undertakes full-time study in an approved scholarship course on 1 April 2010; and

             (b)    the person becomes qualified for youth allowance on or after 1 July 2010 but before 29 July 2010; and

             (c)    when the person becomes qualified for youth allowance, the person is not independent (see section 1067A of that Act).

(2)    To avoid doubt, subitem (1) does not allow a person to qualify more than twice in 2010 for a student start-up scholarship payment.

4B Transitional rule for relocation scholarship payment

(1)    This item applies if:

             (a)    a person qualifies for a relocation scholarship payment on or after 1 July 2010 but before 29 July 2010 because the person is not independent (see section 1067A of the Social Security Act 1991) but is required to live away from home (see section 1067D of that Act); and

             (b)    the person undertakes full-time study in an approved scholarship course on 1 April 2010; and

             (c)    the earliest time at which the person was required to live away from home (see section 1067D of that Act) in connection with the course was not more than 6 months before the person started full-time study in the course in 2010.

(2)    Subsection 592L(2) of the Social Security Act 1991 does not apply to affect the amount of the first relocation scholarship payment to the person.

Note:                The amount of that relocation scholarship payment to the person will therefore be $4,000 (under subsection 592L(1) of the Social Security Act 1991) unless subsection 592L(3) of that Act applies.

(2)    Page 35 (after line 11), at the end of the bill, add:

Schedule 4—Higher education assistance for rural and regional students

Social Security Act 1991

1 After Chapter 2B

Insert:

Chapter 2BA—Higher education assistance for rural and regional students

Part 2BA.1—Higher education assistance for rural and regional students

1061ZZFW Scheme for higher education assistance for rural and regional students

        (1)    The Minister must, by legislative instrument, determine a scheme for paying $20 million, in the period starting on 1 January 2011 and ending at the end of 30 June 2013, for assistance for the undertaking of higher education by people under 25 years old who both:

             (a)    have their main place of residence in a rural or regional area; and

             (b)    would experience financial hardship in undertaking higher education without the assistance.

        (2)    Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the scheme may deal with the following:

             (a)    the form of the assistance;

             (b)    the circumstances in which payment is to be made, or assistance is to be provided, to particular persons;

             (c)    the amounts of payments to, or assistance for, particular persons;

             (d)    which persons qualify for payments or assistance;

             (e)    administrative matters, such as determination of entitlement and how and when payments will be made or assistance will be provided.

        (3)    The Minister may, by legislative instrument, vary the scheme, but not so as to reduce the total of payments to less than $20 million or delay the day by which that amount is to be paid.

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