edited
27th Oct 2024
Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024 - Second Reading - Student debt
Not passed by a large majority
No rebellions 40% attendance
26th Nov 2024, 6:44 PM – Senate Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024 - in Committee - Reduction of AASL, HELP, SSL, FS and VETSL debts
Summary
EditThe majority voted against amendments introduced by NSW Senator Mehreen Faruqi (Greens), which means they failed. The purpose of the amendments was to reduce AASL, HELP, SSL, FS and VETSL debts by 20%.
Amendment text
(1) Clause 2, page 2 (after table item 6), insert:
(2) Page 28 (after line 10), after Schedule 1, insert:
Schedule 1A — Reduction of AASL, HELP, SSL, FS and VETSL debts
Australian Apprenticeship Support Loans Act 2014
1 At the end of Part 3.1
Add:
38A Rules must discharge an amount of accumulated AASL debts
(1) The rules must provide that an accumulated AASL debt that a person incurs on 1 June 2025 is discharged by 20%.
(2) Rules made for the purposes of subsection (1) have effect despite any other provision of this Act.
Higher Education Support Act 2003
2 At the end of Subdivision 140-C
Add:
140-45 Reduction of accumulated HELP debts on 2 June 2025
(1) If a person incurs an *accumulated HELP debt on 1 June 2025 for that financial year, then, on 2 June 2025, the person's accumulated HELP debt for that financial year is taken to have been discharged by an amount that is worked out in accordance with the following formula:
The amount of the person's accumulated HELP debt on 1 June 2025 x 0.2
(2) Subsection (1) has effect despite any other provision of this Act, other than section 140-30 (which deals with the rounding of amounts).
Social Security Act 1991
3 At the end of Part 2AA.3
Add:
1061ZVEG Minister must discharge an amount of accumulated SSL debts
(1) The Minister must, by legislative instrument, provide that an accumulated SSL debt that a person incurs on 1 June 2025 is discharged by 20%.
(2) An instrument made for the purposes of subsection (1) has effect despite any other provision of this Act.
4 At the end of Part 2B.3
Add:
1061ZZFPA Minister must discharge an amount of accumulated FS debts
(1) The Minister must, by legislative instrument, provide that an accumulated FS debt that a person incurs on 1 June 2025 is discharged by 20%.
(2) An instrument made for the purposes of subsection (1) has effect despite any other provision of this Act.
VET Student Loans Act 2016
5 At the end of Division 3 of Part 3A
Add:
23CG Rules must discharge an amount of accumulated VETSL debts
(1) The rules must provide that an accumulated VETSL debt that a person incurs on 1 June 2025 is discharged by 20%.
(2) Rules made for the purposes of subsection (1) have effect despite any other provision of this Act.
Votes Not passed by a modest majority
Nobody rebelled against their party.
| Party | Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Greens (100% turnout) | 11 Yes – 0 No | |
| Penny Allman-Payne Queensland | Yes | |
| Dorinda Cox WA | Yes | |
| Mehreen Faruqi NSW | Yes | |
| Sarah Hanson-Young SA | Yes | |
| Steph Hodgins-May Victoria | Yes | |
| Nick McKim Tasmania | Yes | |
| Barbara Pocock SA | Yes | |
| David Shoebridge NSW | Yes | |
| Jordon Steele-John WA | Yes | |
| Larissa Waters Queensland | Yes | |
| Peter Whish-Wilson Tasmania | Yes | |
| Australian Labor Party (83% turnout) | 0 Yes – 20 No | |
| Tim Ayres NSW | No | |
| Catryna Bilyk Tasmania | No | |
| Carol Brown Tasmania | No | |
| Anthony Chisholm Queensland | No | |
| Raff Ciccone Victoria | No | |
| Lisa Darmanin Victoria | No | |
| Varun Ghosh WA | No | |
| Nita Green Queensland | No | |
| Karen Grogan SA | No | |
| Jenny McAllister NSW | No | |
| Deborah O'Neill NSW | No | |
| Helen Polley Tasmania | No | |
| Tony Sheldon NSW | No | |
| Marielle Smith SA | No | |
| Glenn Sterle WA | No | |
| Jana Stewart Victoria | No | |
| Anne Urquhart Tasmania | No | |
| Jess Walsh Victoria | No | |
| Murray Watt Queensland | No | |
| Penny Wong SA | No | |
| Don Farrell SA | Absent | |
| Katy Gallagher ACT | Absent | |
| Malarndirri McCarthy NT | Absent | |
| Louise Pratt WA | Absent | |
| Jacinta Nampijinpa Price NT Country Liberal Party | Absent | |
| Andrew McLachlan SA Deputy President | No | |
| Fatima Payman WA Independent | Yes | |
| Tammy Tyrrell Tasmania Independent | No | |
| David Pocock ACT Independent | Absent | |
| Gerard Rennick Queensland Independent | Absent | |
| Lidia Thorpe Victoria Independent | Absent | |
| David Van Victoria Independent | Absent | |
| Jacqui Lambie Tasmania Jacqui Lambie Network | No | |
| Liberal National Party (0% turnout) | Absent | |
| Matthew Canavan Queensland | Absent | |
| James McGrath Queensland | Absent | |
| Liberal Party (18% turnout) | 0 Yes – 4 No | |
| Richard Colbeck Tasmania | No | |
| Sarah Henderson Victoria | No | |
| Maria Kovacic NSW | No | |
| Anne Ruston SA | No | |
| Alex Antic SA | Absent | |
| Wendy Askew Tasmania | Absent | |
| Simon Birmingham SA | Absent | |
| Andrew Bragg NSW | Absent | |
| Slade Brockman WA | Absent | |
| Michaelia Cash WA | Absent | |
| Claire Chandler Tasmania | Absent | |
| Jonathon Duniam Tasmania | Absent | |
| David Fawcett SA | Absent | |
| Hollie Hughes NSW | Absent | |
| Jane Hume Victoria | Absent | |
| Kerrynne Liddle SA | Absent | |
| Matt O'Sullivan WA | Absent | |
| James Paterson Victoria | Absent | |
| Linda Reynolds WA | Absent | |
| Paul Scarr Queensland | Absent | |
| Dave Sharma NSW | Absent | |
| Dean Smith WA | Absent | |
| National Party (25% turnout) | 0 Yes – 1 No | |
| Bridget McKenzie Victoria | No | |
| Ross Cadell NSW | Absent | |
| Perin Davey NSW | Absent | |
| Susan McDonald Queensland | Absent | |
| Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party (100% turnout) | 0 Yes – 2 No | |
| Pauline Hanson Queensland | No | |
| Malcolm Roberts Queensland | No | |
| Sue Lines WA President | Absent | |
| Ralph Babet Victoria United Australia Party | No | |
| Totals (57% turnout) | 12 Yes – 31 No |
Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.