Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Hansard source

I think you say, ‘You’re welcome’! As the chamber would be aware, the Higher Education Support Amendment (2009 Budget Measures) Bill 2009 amends the Higher Education Support Act to implement the Australian government’s reform to the higher education system announced in the 2009-10 budget. That reform responds to the review of higher education, the Bradley review, which affirmed that the reach, quality and performance of a higher education system will be the key determinants of economic and social progress.

There were a number of issues raised in the debate, including those raised by Senator Fielding. Minister Carr, in his second reading speech, addressed some of those issues to some extent. I trust that other senators have also made a contribution on these issues. I do not propose to traverse the detail of the entirety of the debate. I commend the bill to the Senate. I remind senators that the measures in the bill are also complemented by additional investments of some $2.1 billion from the Education Investment Fund for education research infrastructure and also just over $1 billion for the Super Science Initiative. I commend the bill to the chamber.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.