Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Corporate Governance and Responsibility) Share this | Hansard source

I want to make a couple of points. It is no surprise that the minister is articulating this position, as clearly the minister in the other place has indicated the same view. The system that the minister describes as ‘quite robust’—that is, the existing system—and is defending against an amendment such as this is one that has delivered in Victoria a situation where only 12 per cent of eligible students have in fact received the relevant assistance. That is what this government is describing as ‘quite robust’. One in eight eligible students—12 per cent—in the state of Victoria is actually receiving the assistance to which they are supposedly entitled under this program.

My suggestion to the chamber and to the government is that 12 per cent is really not what most would regard as a reasonable outcome. It is certainly not an outcome that would be regarded as ‘robust’—to use the term of this minister and the minister in the other place. We on this side of the chamber believe that inserting better probity mechanisms and safeguards into this legislation is appropriate. We do not think having one in eight Victorian students who are eligible for this assistance receiving it is particularly strong praise for the way the program is currently being delivered.

Question put:

That the amendment (Senator Wong’s) be agreed to.