Ms JULIE BISHOP (Minister for Education, Science and Training and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women’s Issues) (6:12 PM) —No. What the Australian government did was to review the cluster funding arrangements in the lead-up to the budget. In consideration of that review, we increased the funding under the Commonwealth Grant Scheme for a number of courses. In fact, it would be worth me putting that on the Hansard record. It was an extra $557 million over four years for specific courses. Specifically, the Commonwealth Grant Scheme funding will deliver increases in 2008 for maths and science by $2,729 per place; for allied health by $1,889 per place; for engineering, science and surveying by $684 per place; for clinical psychology by $2,729 per place; for education by $109 per place; for nursing by $109 per place; for behavioural science and social studies by $840 per place; and for medicine, dentistry and veterinary science by $1,081 per place. It is up to the universities as to how they distribute funds across all discipline clusters.

In relation to accounting, administration, economics and commerce, we have aligned those with law. That means that the Commonwealth Grant Scheme amount will be the same as applies for the delivery of a law course. That will come into effect from 1 January 2008. However, any students who are already studying at university prior to 1 January 2008 will continue under the existing arrangements until the end of 2012.