Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I appreciate the minister's undertaking to look at this, but I think it is fair to say that it is not as though this matter is one that has come as a total surprise. When part of this tranche of bills was dealt with a year or two ago there was an amendment about the minister's discretion to deal with issues, which Senator Hanson-Young co-sponsored with me. It is not as though it has come entirely out of the blue, but I understand what the minister has said, and I agree with him about the Baird review process.

The intention for this amendment, as with my amendment, Senator Rhiannon's amendment and the Australian Greens' amendment, is to give a higher degree of certainty and comfort to overseas students in the event that something goes wrong. We cannot take it any further, but I can indicate again my support for this amendment.