THE PARLIAMENT OF THE

Transcription

1 1990 THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING AMENDMENT BILL (NO. 2) 1990 EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM (circulated by authority of the Minister for Higher Education and Employment Services, the Hon Peter Baldwin NP) THIS MEMORANDUM TAKES ACCOUNT OF AMENDMENTS MADE BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO THE BILL AS INTRODUCED 566(1/90 (at. No. 9(

2 1990 THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING AMENDMENT BILL (NO. 2) 1990 EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM (circulated by authority of the Minister for Higher Education and Enploynerit Sex-vices, the Hon Peter Baldwin MP)

3 Higher Education Funding Amendment Bill (No.2) 1990 OUTLINE The purpose of this Bill is to amend the Higher Education Funding Act 1988 which provides grants of financial assistance to the States, the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and higher education institutions. The current Act provides funding for the Trienniun. The Bill provides funding for higher education institutions for 1993 amounting to $3 204 million in accordance with the rolling triennial funding arrangements. This amount takes into account the recent Government decision to provide funding of $29.61 million for additional intakes in 1993, additional funding to facilitate an increase in Australian Postgraduate Research Awards (APRA5) and funding for capital projects in 1993 of $2l2.453m. Increased funding is being provided for higher education institutions amounting to $128.l69n in 1990, $ n in 1991 and $ m in 1992 in accordance with the Government s cost supplementation arrangements. The Bill also provides for the incorporation of the Australian Postgraduate Course Awards and Research Fellowship programs into the Act in line with the decision to fund prograns of the Australian Research Council on a rolling triennial basis. FINANCIAL IMPACT The Bill provides in relation to current legislated amounts for an additional $228.0l3 million in 1990, $ million in 1991, $ million in 1992 and $ million in 1993.

4 NOTES ON CLAUSES OF THE BLLL Claus~1: Short title etc Clause 2~ Commencement Clause 3: Definitions: The definition of year to which this Chapter applies is amended to include the new year of rolling trienniun. Clause 4: Institutions: This amends the table of institutions to which Chapters 2 and 3 of the original Act apply by including the Victoria University of Technology, Ballarat University College and the University Colleges of Central and Southern Queensland. A number of institutions have also been removed following the finalisation of several amalgamations. Clau~_5: Maximum Grants: The variations to existing legislated amounts are set out below: $m $m Re-imbursement of HECS revenue to the States Staff Development Fund Savings on early retirement assistance Transfer from section (superannuation expenses) Supplementation TOTAL $ million is provided for Clauses: Grants for Aboriginal narticipation projects: Provision has been made for the transfer of funds from the Aboriginal Education strategic Initiatives Program (AESIP) under the Aboriginal EducatiotL (Supplementary Assistance) Act to Section 19 of the Principal Act for 1991 and beyond. The transfers from AESIP are $7.8m in 1991 and $8.2m in From 1993 Grants for Aboriginal participation projects (including AESIP), will operate as a program within the framework of Sections 15 and 16. The funds from sect ion 19 have been included in the monies available under sections is and 16, grants for operating purposes from Institutions will be required to support participation by Aboriginal students within their total educational program and account for such activities within the profile. planning process.

5 Clause 7: Grants for s~~p~rannuation expenses: An amount of $25m has been transferred to Section 17, Ma~imUn grants available under sections 15 and 16 for operating purposes, from section 20 from the beginning of Claims for additional funding under this section will be assessed taking into account the higher levels of funding for superannuation costs being provided in the base operating grants. Provision has been made for additional funding in 1990, 1991 and 1992 to neet increasing costs primarily related to State emerging cost schemes and provision has been made for Clauses 8: Grants for projects of national priority Provision has been made for supplementary funding in 1990, 1991 and 1992 and provision has been made for Q~us~2: Promotion of eguali~y_of opportunity: Provision has been made for supplementary funding in 1990, 1991 and 1992 and provision has been made for The conditions of grant have been modified to reflect a change in emphasis from specific projects to institutions achieving participation targets for disadvantaged groups as set out in their equity plans. Institutions will be required to account for such activities within the profile planning process. clause 10: gcc.ifl research assistance: The scope of the section has been expanded to provide for the transfer of programs currently funded under Appropriation Acts. The programs are the Australian Postgraduate Course Awards and the Research Fellowships program. Provision has been made for supplementary funding in 1990, 1991 and 1992 and provision has been made for Clause 11: Grants for teaching hospitals: Provision has been made for supplementary funding in 1990, 1991 and 1992 and provision has been made for Clause 12: Grants in respect oldruq and alcohol education in teaching hospitals: Provision has been made for supplementary funding in clcp~fl: Grants for building projects: Provision has been made for supplementary funding in 1990, 1991 and 1992 and provision has been made for 1993.

6 Clause 14: Promotion of equality of opportunity: The conditions of grant have been modified to reflect a change in emphasis from specific projects to institutions achieving participation targets for disadvantaged groups as set out in their equity plans. Institutions will be required to account for such activities within the profile planning process. Clause 15: Interpretation: The definition of census date has been varied to provide students in short programs with an opportunity to withdraw from courses shortly after commencement, similar to the arrangements for normal semesters; and the definition of designated course of study has been varied to exclude all undergraduate awards, including diplomas and degrees, that provide an initial qualification in relation to nursing. Clause 16: Semesters: The definition of semesters has been widened to cover teaching periods that do not fall into the normal first and second semester pattern and which cannot be considered to be summer schools in terms of the Act. Clause 17: Power of Secretary to remit Semester debt in special circumstances: The Secretary s powers have been increased to provide flexibility to remit students debts where they were not able to comply with the normal three nonth application limit. Students applying for remission will now need to demonstrate that because of special circumstances they did not complete their course requirements. Clause 18: Compulsory payment in respect of accumulated HEC debt: The compulsory repayment rates have been increased to 2, 3 and 4 per cent repectively. Printed by Authority by the Commonwealth Government Printer

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