Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Hansard source

As I have made clear publicly, the government provided certainty in relation to university funding for university students and all stakeholders in 2016. We are consulting further in relation to reforms that may apply beyond 2016. But any reforms we apply will be equitable in their nature and will ensure continued access to university for people from all walks of life, because we are guaranteeing the maintenance of the HECS program, the HELP program, the income support arrangements and income-contingent loans that ensure that no student faces one dollar in upfront fees in relation to accessing an undergraduate degree at an Australia university. This ensures fair and equitable access for Australian's accessing university.

Since the HECS program was introduced by the Keating government, we have seen continued growth of enrolments from students, who are not deterred by the fact that they might incur a debt, because they know that it is the best debt that they will ever undertake in terms of getting better job security and higher wage jobs in future. It has been supported by both sides of politics. (Time expired)