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

I know that the Higher Education Support Amendment (University College London) Bill 2010 is listed as non-controversial, but that does not mean that it is without significance. It is a highly significant bill. As Senator Stephens would know, while some people—indeed, some of my own colleagues—do not appreciate the full significance of the higher education sector to our economy, it is our third-largest export, so anything to do with higher education is critical to this country’s future. This bill foreshadows and flags the increasing internationalisation of the Australian tertiary sector, allowing further universities to enter into the sector and compete with Australian universities. Specifically, this bill seeks to enable the listing of University College London as a table C provider, which will allow it to offer FEE-HELP assistance to eligible domestic students.

Honourable senators will be aware that University College London, known as UCL, is one of the world’s leading research institutions. It is one of the great universities of the English-speaking world, and it is a great thing that this bill will enable them to compete in Australia. Enabling students to attend UCL and qualify for FEE-HELP signals the continued internationalisation of higher education in Australia. This is a good thing. It is a great thing for our nation. It also signals that with competition our nation cannot in any sense afford to rest on its laurels. I know the government is seeking not to do that, and the opposition will encourage them in that endeavour. The opposition certainly supports this bill.

Ursula Stephens (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Mason for his support and the support of the opposition. The Higher Education Support Amendment (University College London) Bill 2010 allows for retrospective commencement of the amendment to the Higher Education Act to ensure that any students wishing to seek FEE-HELP assistance for units of study that they undertake with University College London during semester 1 of 2010 will not be disadvantaged owing to a delay in the passage of the bill after commencement of semester 1 of the 2010 academic year. I commend the bill to the Senate.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.