Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

Those opposite laugh. They have no interest in this subject whatsoever, and we have started. I say to all members of the House, especially those on this side that are interested in this subject, that nominations close on Friday 13 December for the next round of our regional university centres. I know there will be one going into Wangaratta. I say to all members that we extended the deadlines for those nominations because of droughts and fires and to give communities an extra couple of weeks to be able to apply. To all the regions and all the areas who want greater higher education participation, please get your nominations in for this very important recommendation.

Over $500 million has already been provided since 2016 to lift participation for regional and rural higher education in our regions. We want to continue delivering. That's why we put in place a new scholarship program to lift students going from other places to regional and rural areas to study, to bring international students to regional and rural areas to study. We have an ambitious agenda to improve higher education attainment in regional and rural Australia, and we will deliver on it.

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