Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to inform the chamber that Senator O'Neill will also sponsor this motion. I, and also on behalf of Senator O'Neill, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the Government has proposed cutting public subsidies to the higher education enabling programs and introducing fees for these students for the first time,

(ii) from 2011 to 2015, the University of Newcastle had the highest number of students in enabling programs, and

(iii) enabling programs are essential for the University of Newcastle and many other universities to meet the needs of their diverse communities; and

(b) calls on the Government to abandon plans to cut public subsidies and introduce fees for students in the enabling programs.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No student will pay up-front fees for an enabling course under the coalition government's higher education reforms. The average enabling course is about $1,000. Fifty-two per cent of Commonwealth-supported students who commenced an enabling course in 2014 continued studying in 2015, compared to 61 per cent for domestic fee-paying students. There is no evidence students are deterred by fees when they are deferrable through the loans system. Professor Bruce Chapman has noted:

The evidence is now overwhelming that changes to the level of the charge, or other aspects of HECS-HELP … have no discernible effects on student behaviour or choices.

Question agreed to.