ISSN 1328â8091 Parliament of Australia Department of Parliamentary Services BILLS DIGEST NO. 18, 2010-11 20 October 2010 Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities) Bill 2010 Coral Dow Social Policy Section Contents Purpose .................................................................................................................................................... 2 Background .............................................................................................................................................. 2 Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) ............................................................................................... 3 VSU Transition Funding ............................................................................................................ 3 Basis of policy commitment .......................................................................................................... 5 Policy position of nonâgovernment parties/independents ................................................................ 7 Position of major interest groups ....................................................................................................... 7 Financial implications ............................................................................................................................... 9 Main issues ............................................................................................................................................... 9 Should the fee be compulsory? ................................................................................................ 9 Is SAâHELP necessary? .............................................................................................................. 9 Should higher education providers control the funds? .......................................................... 10 Will the fee be sufficient to restore essential student services and reinvigorate campus life? ......................................................................................................................... 11 Will activities that providers can fund be clearly identified? ................................................. 11 Will the fee be a financial burden on students? .................................................................... 12 Key provisions ........................................................................................................................................ 12 Schedule 1 .................................................................................................................................... 12 Concluding comments ........................................................................................................................... 14 2 Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities) Bill 2010 Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities) Bill 2010 Date introduced: 29 September 2010 House: House of Representatives Portfolio: Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations Commencement: The formal provisions commence on Royal Assent. Schedule 1 commences six months from the day of Royal Assent or earlier by Proclamation. Links: The links to the Bill, its Explanatory Memorandum and second reading speech can be found on
Date: 20/10/2010 - Collection: Bills and Legislation - ID: legislation/billsdgs/300541 - Source: Bills Digest Service - Author: DOW, Coral