Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

I have additional information to give to a question asked by former Senator Watson with regard to the University of Tasmania. I seek leave to incorporate the answer in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The answer read as follows—

Senator Watson asked the Minister Representing the Minister for Education (Senator Carr), without notice on 26 June 2008.

Senator WATSON —My question is directed to Senator the Hon. Kim Carr, representing the Minister for Education. As a result of special coalition funding, the University of Tasmania was able to lift the proportion of Tasmanians with bachelor’s degrees or above from 11 to 15 per cent. Will the government live up to its rhetoric about the education revolution so that, in the case of the University of Tasmania, it is in a position to lift the proportion of Tasmanians with a bachelor’s degree or above from 15 to 20 per cent, which is the national average?

Senator CARR—I thank Senator Watson for his question, and I wish him well in his retirement, as one of the 14 senators leaving today. The question he asks with regard to the University of Tasmania and the fact that the Rudd Labor government has committed so much to the higher education system in such a short time are duly noted, and I appreciate the opportunity to highlight the fact that, in the first six months of this government, we have introduced measures that will improve substantially the opportunities for people to embark upon a tertiary education.

With regard to the specific matters he raises about the University of Tasmania, I would like to seek further advice from the minister, and I will do so.

Response

The Minister for Education has provided the following information.

Scholarships for a Competitive Future

The Government has announced a range of measures as part of its 2008-09 Budget to substantially improve the opportunities for people to participate in undergraduate as well as postgraduate higher education.

National Priority and Accommodation Scholarships

• The Government is providing $238.5 million over four years for 29 000 new National Priority Scholarships and 15 000 new National Accommodation Scholarships. This will improve access to higher education. places, including for students from Indigenous communities and regional and remote areas.
• Consultation is being undertaken with the higher education sector on the implementation of the measure via submissions received in response to the Scholarships for a Competitive Future discussion paper.

Postgraduate Scholarships

• The Budget also provides $209.0 million over four years to increase the number of Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) holders from 4800 to around 10 000 by 2012.
• This initiative will result in many higher degree research students receiving support for their living costs while undertaking a research degree.

Commonwealth Scholarships to the University of Tasmania

• In 2007, the University of Tasmania (UTAS) received $668 643 from the Higher Education Equity Support Programme and 248 591 from the Higher Education Disability Support Programme.
• In 2008 UTAS was allocated 952* new Commonwealth Scholarships comprising:
• 243 new Ordinary Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships (CECS)
• 295 new Ordinary Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships (CAS)
• 190 Associate Degree CECS
• 190 Associate Degree CAS
• 11 Indigenous Enabling CECS
• 11 Indigenous Enabling CAS
• 28 Indigenous Access Scholarships
• UTAS were also awarded 1152* continuing Commonwealth Scholarships (569 CECS and 583 CAS)

Mathematics and science

• In the 2008-09 Budget, the Australian Government announced the implementation of an election commitment to encourage more people to study maths and science at university.
• From 1 January 2009, the amount that university students need to pay to study maths (including statistics) and science in a place that is subsidised by the Government will be reduced by $3250 (nearly half) (per equivalent full time study load, indexed annually). Funding of around $562.2 million over four years has been allocated to this initiative.
• The Government is also providing around $63.6 million over four years to reduce (by around half on average) the repayments of the HECS-HELP loans for maths and science graduates who take up work in related occupations, including teaching of these subjects at secondary school. Eligible graduates who complete their course of study from second semester 2008 onwards will be able to apply for the reduction. Graduates will be able to claim a reduction of $1500 (around half of average repayments) per year for a period equivalent to five years.

Better Universities Renewal Funding

To improve higher education institutions’ infrastructure for teaching, learning and research and to enhance the student experience through improved student amenities, $500 million in 2007-08 will be provided for campus renewal.

• UTAS has been allocated $11.456 million under the Better Universities Renewal Funding initiative. This funding recognises the immediate need to renew university infrastructure.
• These figures take into account the integration of the Australian Maritime College and the University of Tasmania from 1 January 2008.