Brett Mason (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Education and School Curriculum Standards) Share this | Hansard source

I move an amendment to government amendment (6) on sheet BV265 revised:

(1)    Government amendment no. 6 on sheet [BV265-Revised]:

Paragraph (10E)(a), after “Remoteness Structure as”, insert “Inner Regional Australia,”.

As I flagged in my speech in the second reading debate, this amendment reflects the coalition’s continuing concern for rural students and also, in a sense, reflects that whatever happens there will be anomalies. Whenever lines are drawn on maps there will be anomalies. This amendment will cater for more students and make more funds available for, let us face it, one of the most disadvantaged groups when it comes to access to higher education. That is why the coalition is moving this amendment. But we also move it in the spirit that there is no easy answer here. When we are dealing with disadvantaged groups and their access to higher education, all we can do is our best. The coalition believes it is important to put a marker in the sand about what we consider to be one of the most disadvantaged groups in terms of access—we do this unapologetically. I think I flagged in my second reading contribution that if the coalition is elected at the next federal election we will review student support and, in particular, matters of equity in relation to rural students because for too long those kids have missed out. I agree with Senator Hanson-Young. Okay, there is a lot of politics in this but in the end we have to do the right thing by 100,000 or 150,000 students and we have to do it pretty quickly. But politics always intervenes. These kids have missed out in the past and we are unapologetically very, very concerned about their access.