5353

2004-2005-2006-2007

 

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

 

THE SENATE

 

Higher Education Endowment Fund Bill 2007

 

(Amendment to be moved by Senator Stott Despoja on behalf of the Australian Democrats in committee of the whole)

(1)     Clause 40, page 30 (lines 7 to 9), omit subclause 40(2), substitute:

             (2)  The Advisory Board consists of not less than 7 members representing a range of professional backgrounds who collectively possess knowledge and expertise in the following fields:

                     (a)  tertiary sector management;

                     (b)  the research sector;

                     (c)  teaching and learning;

                     (d)  the evaluation of capital infrastructure;

                     (e)  knowledge transfer to industry;

such persons to be appointed from time to time to the Advisory Board by the Education Minister in writing.

[professional credentials Advisory Board]

(2)     Clause 41, page 30 (lines 22 to 30), omit the clause, substitute:

41  Functions of the Advisory Board

             (1)  The Advisory Board has the functions of:

                     (a)  assessing and ranking applications submitted under the Higher Education Endowment Fund for a grant of financial assistance, according to guidelines issued by the Education Minister;

                     (b)  making grant recommendations to the Education Minister; and

                     (c)  other matters referred to it by the Education Minister that relate to:

                              (i)  making grants of financial assistance to eligible higher education institutions in relation to capital expenditure; or

                             (ii)  making grants of financial assistance to eligible higher education institutions in relation to research facilities.

             (2)  A guideline made under subsection (1)(a) must specify the considerations by which grants of financial assistance will be made to higher education institutions, including but not limited to criteria providing for merit and eligibility.

             (3)  A guideline made under subsection (1)(a) is a legislative instrument to which section 42 (disallowance) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 applies.

             (4)  The Minister must cause a copy of a grant recommendation made in accordance with paragraph (1)(b) to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of the Minister’s receipt of the recommendation.

[functions of advisory board]

(Amendment (3) is an alternative to amendment (2))

(3)     Page 30 (after line 30), after clause 41, insert:

41A  Keeping the Parliament informed of grant recommendations

                   The Minister must cause a copy of a recommendation from the Advisory Board that relates to:

                     (a)  a grant of financial assistance to an eligible higher education institution in relation to capital expenditure; or

                     (b)  a grant of financial assistance to an eligible higher education institution in relation to research facilities;

to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of the Minster’s receipt of the recommendation.

[recommendations to be tabled]