Explanatory Memorandum
Circulated By Authority of the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace RelationsOutline
The Bill will amend paragraph 137-10(2)(a) of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 to increase the FEE-HELP 'loan fee' from 20 per cent to 25 per cent, to commence from 1 January 2011.
Eligible fee paying students can use a FEE-HELP loan to pay the tuition fee for eligible units of study. When the unit of study is undertaken as part of an undergraduate course of study a loan fee applies. The loan fee is included as part of the FEE-HELP debt incurred for the unit of study. The Bill has the effect of increasing the FEE-HELP debt from 120 per cent to 125 per cent of the loan amount.
The amendment will give effect to a recommendation of the Review of Australian Higher Education, that the loan fee for FEE-HELP for fee paying undergraduate students be increased to 25 per cent.
Financial impact
The estimated financial impact of the increase in the loan fee, based on a commencement date of 1 July 2010, as at the Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2009-10, was $+42.9 million (fiscal balance) over the period 2010-11 to 2012-13.
The Bill provides for a commencement date of 1 January 2011. The adjustment to the cost of the measure for this commencement date is $-7.0 million (fiscal balance) over the period 2010-11 to 2013-14.
NOTES ON CLAUSES
Clause 1 - Short title
Provides for the Act to be cited as the Higher Education Support Amendment (FEE-HELP Loan Fee) Act 2010.
Clause 2 - Commencement
Provides that the Act commences on the day on which it receives Royal Assent.
Clause 3 - Schedule(s)
Provides that each Act that is specified in a Schedule is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule and that any other item in a Schedule has effect according to its terms.
Schedule 1 - Amendments
Higher Education Support Act 2003
Item 1 - Paragraph 137-10(2)(a)
Item 1 increases the amount of the FEE-HELP debt which is incurred under paragraph 137-10(2)(a) from 120% to 125%.
Subsection 137-10(2) provides that the amount of a FEE-HELP debt is:
- (a)
- if the loan relates to FEE-HELP assistance for a unit of study that forms part of an undergraduate course of study - an amount equal to 120% of the loan; or
- (b)
- if, paragraph (a) does not apply - the amount of the loan.
This amendment will increase the FEE-HELP debt for those people to whom paragraph 137-10(2)(a) applies.
Item 2 - Application
Item 2 contains an application provision which provides that the increase in the FEE-HELP debts in Item 1 will apply to FEE-HELP debts incurred on or after 1 January 2011 in relation to units of study whose census dates are on or after 1 January 2011.