Brett Whiteley voted very strongly for increasing indexation of HECS-HELP debts

The majority agreed to pass the bill (in parliamentary jargon, they agreed to read the bill for a third time). This means that the bill will now go to the Senate to see if the senators agree with the members of parliament (MPs) and also want to pass the bill. If they do, it will become law.

Main idea of the bill

This bill "essentially replicates" the previous Higher Education and Research Reform Amendment Bill 2014, which was rejected by the Senate last year. These measures include:

• deregulating university fees by removing any restrictions on the amount that universities can charge students for tuition in Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs);
• indexing HECS-HELP debts by the ten year bond rate (with a cap at 6%) instead of the generally lower Consumer Price Index (CPI), which it is currently indexed at; and
• allowing universities to charge postgraduate students in research degrees fees up to a fixed cap (currently they don't have to pay tuition fees).

Read more about these measures in the description of the previous Higher Education and Research Reform Amendment Bill 2014 as well as this bill's bills digest.

Background to the bill

As part of its 2014-15 Budget, Prime Minister Tony Abbott's Government has announced a series of changes to government funding arrangements and this bill is part of those changes (read more in the bills digest).

The majority agree with the bill. This means the Members of Parliament (MPs) can now decide on whether they want to pass it in the House so it can then be sent to the Senate for their consideration.

Main idea of the bill

The main idea of the bill is to introduce broad ranging changes to the higher education sector, including the three changes mentioned below.

1. Deregulating university fees

One of the most controversial aspects of the bill is that it will remove any restrictions on the amount that universities can charge students for tuition in Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs). It is not known how much tuition fees would rise if this bill is passed and becomes law (read more in the bills digest).

2. Indexing HECS-HELP debt by ten year bond rate

The bill will also introduce new indexation arrangements for Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) debts (also known as HECS-HELP debts). Currently, these debts are indexed by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The bill proposes to index them by the generally higher ten year bond rate, with a cap at 6%.

3. Charging fees for postgraduate research degrees

Currently, postgraduate students in research degrees don't have to pay any tuition costs. The bill will allow universities to charge these students fees of up to $3,900 per unit for high-cost courses and $1,700 for low-cost courses.

Background to the bill

As part of its 2014-15 Budget, Prime Minister Tony Abbott's Government has announced a series of changes to government funding arrangements and this bill is part of those changes (read more in the bills digest).

The majority agree with the main idea of the bill (in parliamentary jargon, they agreed to give the bill a second reading). This means the Members of Parliament (MPs) can now discuss it in more detail.

Main idea of the bill

The main idea of the bill is to introduce broad ranging changes to the higher education sector, including the three changes mentioned below.

1. Deregulating university fees

One of the most controversial aspects of the bill is that it will remove any restrictions on the amount that universities can charge students for tuition in Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs). It is not known how much tuition fees would rise if this bill is passed and becomes law (read more in the bills digest).

2. Indexing HECS-HELP debt by ten year bond rate

The bill will also introduce new indexation arrangements for Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) debts (also known as HECS-HELP debts). Currently, these debts are indexed by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The bill proposes to index them by the generally higher ten year bond rate, with a cap at 6%.

3. Charging fees for postgraduate research degrees

Currently, postgraduate students in research degrees don't have to pay any tuition costs. The bill will allow universities to charge these students fees of up to $3,900 per unit for high-cost courses and $1,700 for low-cost courses.

Background to the bill

As part of its 2014-15 Budget, Prime Minister Tony Abbott's Government has announced a series of changes to government funding arrangements and this bill is part of those changes (read more in the bills digest).