Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move opposition amendment (1):

(1) Schedule 2, page 13 (line 1 ) to page 23 (line 4), omit the Schedule, substitute:

Schedule 2—Amendments relating to student learning entitlement

Higher Education Support Act 2003

1 Section 70-1

Omit "7 years", substitute "8 years".

2 Section 73-5

Repeal the section, substitute:

73-5 Ordinary SLE

Ordinary SLE for persons eligible immediately before 1 January 2012

(1) A person who was an eligible person immediately before 1 January 2012 has at the beginning of that day an increase of 1 *EFTSL in the person's *ordinary ESL.

Ordinary SLE accruing after 1 January 2012

(2) A person who (by birth or otherwise) becomes an *eligible person for the first time on or after 1 January 2012 has at the beginning of that day an *ordinary SLE equal to 8 *EFTSL.

Meaning of eligible person

(3) An eligible person is:

(a) an Australian citizen; or

(b) a citizen of New Zealand; or

(c) a *permanent visa holder.

3 After Subsection 73-30(2)

Add:

(3) A person who ceased to be an eligible person before 1 January 2012 and next becomes an eligible person again on or after that date is taken to have had, immediately before so ceasing to be an eligible person, an *ordinary SLE that was 1 *EFTSL higher than the person actually had.

For the benefit of the House, I spoke to this amendment in the second reading debate. So that we know what we are voting on, it is the amendment that would retain the student learning entitlement aspect of the legislation and increase from seven to eight the number of years in which an undergraduate can be at university. I spoke to that in the second reading debate. So the Independents are aware of what we are voting on, it is a vote on the student learning entitlement, and the next vote will be on other amendments. I commend the amendment to the House.

Peter Garrett (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government does not support this amend­ment. Consistent with a shift to demand driven funding, the government has agreed in its response to the Bradley review that the student learning entitlement provisions of the act would be abolished. The government's decision to remove a piece of red tape that effectively exists within this legislation has been well received, including by the Group of Eight universities. Even the former Minister for Education, Science and Train­ing, now the Deputy Leader of the Oppos­ition, acknowledged that the student learning entitlement is flawed policy. The govern­ment does not support the amendment.

Question put:

That the amendment (Mr Pyne's) be agreed to.

The House divided. [13:36]

(The Speaker—Mr Harry Jenkins)

Question negatived.

In division—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

While I have members' attention, earlier I was informed by a Queensland member of the coalition with a froggy throat that today is the birthday of the member for O'Connor. On behalf of the House I extend to him best wishes. This is not an attempt to highlight where he is in the chamber at the moment!

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I move opposition amendments (2) and (3):

(2) Schedule 3, item 1, page 24 (line 6), after "free intellectual inquiry" insert "for students, researchers and teachers".

(3) Schedule 3, item 3, page 25 (line 10), after "free intellectual inquiry" insert "for students, researchers and teachers".

These amendments address the issue of free intellectual inquiry and extend it beyond academics to students and researchers. They therefore widen the scope of academic freedom, research freedom and student freedom. I commend my amendments to the House. I feel the pressure around me, so I want to have them moved as soon as possible!

Peter Garrett (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will not speak at great length on why we oppose these amendments. I think that has been canvassed already by speakers. I will conclude my remarks thus.

Question put:

That the amendments (Mr Pyne's) be agreed to.

The House divided. [13:45]

(The Speaker—Mr Harry Jenkins)

Question negatived.

Bill agreed to.