Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

I think we have acknowledged that. I have heard Minister Clare talk about it repeatedly. I've heard others talk about it. We had an ongoing session at education estimates about that. We understand that students are doing it tough in relation to their HECS debt. It is something the government are aware of, but we also do acknowledge the overwhelming difference that HECS has made for the country in terms of enabling people to go to university who otherwise would have missed out. I can put myself in that category. If it were not for HECS, I have no doubt I would never have been able to achieve at university. I am sure there would be others as well.

We understand it is an important component of the higher education space. It is capped. My understanding is that the accelerator start-up program is capped as well in terms of HECS. That is what will apply in relation to the start-up program.