House debates
Thursday, 23 March 2023
Bills
Education Legislation Amendment (Startup Year and Other Measures) Bill 2023; Consideration in Detail
12:40 pm
Sophie Scamps (Mackellar, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
by leave—I move amendments (1) to (93) as circulated in my name together:
(1) Schedule 1, heading to Part 1, page 3 (line 2), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(2) Schedule 1, item 2, page 3 (line 8), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(3) Schedule 1, item 3, page 3 (line 11), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(4) Schedule 1, item 4, page 3 (line 15), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(5) Schedule 1, item 4, page 3 (line 22), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(6) Schedule 1, item 20, page 7 (line 12), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(7) Schedule 1, item 21, page 7 (line 16), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(8) Schedule 1, item 25, page 8 (line 23), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(9) Schedule 1, item 25, page 8 (line 26), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(10) Schedule 1, item 25, page 9 (line 2), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(11) Schedule 1, item 25, page 9 (line 11), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(12) Schedule 1, item 25, page 9 (line 12), omit "*SY-HELP assistance", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP assistance".
(13) Schedule 1, item 25, page 9 (lines 12 and 13), omit "SY-HELP Guidelines", substitute "STARTUP-HELP Guidelines".
(14) Schedule 1, item 25, page 9 (line 15), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(15) Schedule 1, item 25, page 9 (line 17), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(16) Schedule 1, item 25, page 9 (line 18), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(17) Schedule 1, item 25, page 9 (line 19), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(18) Schedule 1, item 25, page 9 (line 20), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(19) Schedule 1, item 25, page 10 (line 4), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(20) Schedule 1, item 25, page 10 (line 22), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(21) Schedule 1, item 25, page 10 (line 26), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(22) Schedule 1, item 25, page 11 (line 26), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(23) Schedule 1, item 25, page 11 (line 28), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(24) Schedule 1, item 25, page 12 (line 6), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(25) Schedule 1, item 25, page 12 (line 10), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(26) Schedule 1, item 25, page 12 (line 14), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(27) Schedule 1, item 25, page 12 (line 22), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(28) Schedule 1, item 25, page 13 (line 5), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(29) Schedule 1, item 25, page 13 (line 31), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(30) Schedule 1, item 25, page 14 (line 12), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(31) Schedule 1, item 25, page 16 (line 14), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(32) Schedule 1, item 25, page 16 (line 15), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(33) Schedule 1, item 25, page 16 (line 17), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(34) Schedule 1, item 25, page 16 (line 19), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(35) Schedule 1, item 25, page 16 (line 20), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(36) Schedule 1, item 25, page 16 (line 21), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(37) Schedule 1, item 25, page 16 (line 25), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(38) Schedule 1, item 25, page 16 (line 27), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(39) Schedule 1, item 25, page 16 (line 29), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(40) Schedule 1, item 25, page 16 (line 31), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(41) Schedule 1, item 25, page 17 (line 9), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(42) Schedule 1, item 25, page 17 (line 27), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(43) Schedule 1, item 25, page 18 (line 2), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(44) Schedule 1, item 25, page 18 (line 6), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(45) Schedule 1, item 25, page 18 (line 10), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(46) Schedule 1, item 25, page 18 (line 12), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(47) Schedule 1, item 25, page 18 (line 23), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(48) Schedule 1, item 25, page 19 (line 1), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(49) Schedule 1, item 25, page 19 (line 3), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(50) Schedule 1, item 25, page 19 (line 6), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(51) Schedule 1, item 25, page 19 (line 19), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(52) Schedule 1, item 25, page 20 (line 29), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(53) Schedule 1, item 25, page 21 (line 18), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(54) Schedule 1, item 25, page 21 (line 19), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(55) Schedule 1, item 25, page 21 (line 24), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(56) Schedule 1, item 25, page 22 (line 1), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(57) Schedule 1, item 25, page 22 (line 3), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(58) Schedule 1, item 25, page 22 (line 11), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(59) Schedule 1, item 25, page 22 (line 12), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(60) Schedule 1, item 25, page 22 (line 15), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(61) Schedule 1, item 25, page 22 (line 20), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(62) Schedule 1, item 25, page 22 (line 22), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(63) Schedule 1, item 26, page 22 (line 28), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(64) Schedule 1, item 27, page 22 (line 31), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(65) Schedule 1, item 28, page 23 (line 3), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(66) Schedule 1, item 28, page 23 (line 4), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(67) Schedule 1, item 28, page 23 (line 11), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(68) Schedule 1, item 28, page 23 (line 12), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(69) Schedule 1, item 28, page 23 (line 13), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(70) Schedule 1, item 28, page 23 (line 14), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(71) Schedule 1, item 28, page 23 (line 18), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(72) Schedule 1, item 28, page 23 (line 19), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(73) Schedule 1, item 28, page 23 (line 20), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(74) Schedule 1, item 29, page 23 (line 26), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(75) Schedule 1, item 31, page 24 (line 6), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(76) Schedule 1, item 34, page 24 (line 15), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(77) Schedule 1, item 50, page 28 (line 14), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(78) Schedule 1, item 60, page 29 (line 26), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(79) Schedule 1, item 60, page 30 (line 7), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(80) Schedule 1, item 61, page 30 (line 19), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(81) Schedule 1, item 62, page 30 (line 22), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(82) Schedule 1, item 62, page 31 (line 1), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(83) Schedule 1, item 62, page 31 (line 3), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(84) Schedule 1, item 65, page 32 (table item 7A), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(85) Schedule 1, item 73, page 33 (line 28), omit "*SY-HELP", substitute "*STARTUP-HELP".
(86) Schedule 1, page 34 (after line 4), after item 73, insert:
73A Subclause 1(1) of Schedule 1
Insert:
STARTUP-HELP assistance means assistance payable under Part 3-7.
STARTUP-HELP debt has the meaning given by section 137-17.
(87) Schedule 1, item 75, page 34 (lines 10 to 13), omit the item.
(88) Schedule 1, item 77, page 35 (after line 6), after the definition of accelerator program course, insert:
STARTUP-HELP assistance has the same meaning as in the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
(89) Schedule 1, item 77, page 35 (lines 7 and 8), omit the definition of SY-HELP assistance.
(90) Schedule 1, item 78, page 35 (line 13), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(91) Schedule 1, item 82, page 36 (line 1), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(92) Schedule 1, item 88, page 37 (line 3), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
(93) Schedule 1, item 93, page 38 (line 2), omit "SY-HELP", substitute "STARTUP-HELP".
I rise today with a small but important amendment to the Education Legislation Amendment (Startup Year and Other Measures) Bill 2023. One of the important objectives of this bill is to create a new form of higher education loan program or HELP assistance, currently known in the bill as the SY-HELP loans—SY for 'startup year'. These loans will help students build skills in an area of great importance to Australia and its future prosperity. The loans will support the participation of final year undergraduate students, current postgrad students and recent graduates in accelerator program courses at Australian universities and Australian colleges. Hopefully they will be successful and go on to become as well known as HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP.
I think the understanding of what these loans are for will be improved by having a name which more directly references the kinds of courses for which they will be available. My amendment proposes that the loans currently referred to in the bill as 'SY-HELP' be termed 'Start-up-HELP.' This will make clear at a glance what the loans refer to and help make accessing these loans more user friendly. I have discussed these changes with the government, and I understand that they will support this amendment, which will make it easier for students interested in undertaking startup year programs. I commend the amendment to the House.
12:42 pm
Jason Clare (Blaxland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I thank the member for Mackellar for bringing forward this amendment. It's a simple one, but I think it's a very practical one as well and the government will support it. We want these loans to be as easy to understand as possible and the member for Mackellar's amendment helps with that. As I said, it's a very simple and practical amendment and we will support it.
Maybe if I can flag in the House, as I did in main committee in wrapping up that debate last night, that, in conversations with the shadow minister for education, we've agreed that this bill should be the subject of a Senate inquiry that might take place over April while the parliament is in recess. We look forward to that to see whether there are any other practical amendments which might even further improve the bill. I thank the member for Mackellar for bringing this before the House.
12:43 pm
Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I just want to express, obviously, support for this. I think there is a great opportunity for us, in terms of the bill as a whole, to send a very important signal in terms of us tapping into the ideas of young Australians to build new businesses. We need to build new businesses. We need to send a signal from government that entrepreneurism and that activity is really important.
I'm grateful for the opportunity, Minister for Education, to speak, because I know that there are some members of the crossbench who also think about who builds those businesses. We want to get a wider range of people building those businesses—in particular I note the presence of the member for Goldstein; we spoke about this in the National Reconstruction Fund—particularly female founders, people from under-represented groups and people from groups beyond city boundaries who are able to use that network, the architecture of regionally based universities, to do that and create businesses in our regions as well. And I note the member for Forrest's presence here as well and I know you're focused on it.
Being able to send a clear intent in the title, being able to match that up with what we're doing in this bill and being able to, potentially, be able to create 2,000 new, young firms that are injecting business dynamism in the Australian economy is something that I think we should all be able to agree upon. I'm very grateful for the amendment put forward and the fact that we are very focused on sending the signal that young Australian's ideas and know-how matter. Creating firms that will create good jobs and being able to call up people from all corners to do so is a great thing. I want to express my support for the amendment.
Ian Goodenough (Moore, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The question is that the amendments be agreed to.
Question agreed to.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question now is that this bill, as amended, be agreed to.
Question agreed to.
Bill, as amended, agreed to.