Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024

The 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.