Recommendations
Recommendation 1
The committee recommends that the Government commission an independent
expert panel to review the performance and effectiveness of the student income
support system. Such a review should include public consultation and any
reports and findings should be tabled in the Parliament. The committee
recommends that the panel include a nominee from each of the key stakeholder
groups.
Recommendation 2
The committee recommends that the Department of Education,
Science and Training and Centrelink coordinate the collection of data on income
support measures and that disaggregated data on student income support payments
be made publicly available.
Recommendation 3
The committee recommends that the Department of Education,
Science and Training include in its exit survey of students a question about
the level of income support and whether it was a factor in students withdrawing
from university.
Recommendation 4
The committee recommends that the Department of Education,
Science and Training develop clear policy objectives and performance indicators
for the student income support system, and that Youth Allowance, Austudy and
ABSTUDY be assessed against these annually. The committee recommends that the
results of these assessments be reported in the Department's annual report on
Higher Education.
Recommendation 5
The committee recommends that a National Partnerships Group,
consisting of representatives from Centrelink, the Student Financial Advisers
Network and other relevant groups, be reconstituted and meet on a regular basis
to discuss changes and difficulties associated with student financial
assistance and to make recommendations to the relevant ministers.
Government senators do not agree with this recommendation.
Recommendation 6
The committee recommends that the Auditor-General be
requested to conduct an audit of Centrelink's delivery of financial assistance
to students, paying particular attention to service delivery issues.
Government senators do not agree with this recommendation.
Recommendation 7
The committee recommends that the Department of Education,
Science and Training undertake an analysis of the costs and benefits associated
with reversing the Government's changes to the Away From Base Component of
ABSTUDY in 1997 and 2000.
Government senators do not agree with this recommendation.
Recommendation 8
The committee recommends that the Department of Education,
Science and Training undertake an analysis of the costs and benefits associated
with:
- reducing the age of independence from 25 to each
of 24, 23, 22, 21 and 18 years;
- increasing the parental income test threshold to
a level that reasonably equates with annual average earnings;
- increasing the tax-free threshold for students;
and
- increasing Youth Allowance, Austudy and ABSTUDY
payments to the level of the age pension.
Government senators do not agree with this recommendation.
Recommendation 9
The committee recommends that Rent Assistance be made
available for all recipients of Austudy, but not before a costing is undertaken
by the Department of Education, Science and Training. The committee recommends
that the costing be completed before the end of 2005 and reported to the
Parliament.
Recommendation 10
The committee recommends that the Department of Education,
Science and Training undertake an analysis of the costs and benefits associated
with making the method of indexation for student income support payments
consistent with the indexation of the pension.
Recommendation 11
The committee recommends that the Department of Education,
Science and Training undertake an analysis of the costs and benefits associated
with exempting university-funded scholarships and scholarships funded by
benefactors and philanthropists from the social security personal income test.
Recommendation 12
The committee recommends that the Government, in
consultation with the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee and student organisations,
undertake regular five-year surveys of student finances and work patterns as
per the AVCC's Paying Their Way
report (2001). These surveys must include a review of all ancillary fees.
Government senators do not agree with this recommendation.
Recommendation 13
The committee recommends that the Department of Education,
Science and Training undertake an analysis of the costs and benefits associated
with a comprehensive student income support payment which is separate from the
existing Youth Allowance and which provides financial assistance to students
for the duration of their course.
Government senators do not agree with this recommendation.
Recommendation 14
The committee recommends that the Department of Education,
Science and Training examine a new income contingent loan scheme to replace the
Student Financial Supplement Scheme.
Government senators do not agree with this recommendation.
The
Democrats acknowledge the benefits provided to students through the Student
Financial Supplement Scheme, but believe it is not an appropriate model for
further consideration.
Recommendation 15
The committee recommends that the Department of Education,
Science and Training undertake an analysis of the costs and benefits associated
with restoring the Educational Textbook Subsidy Scheme.
Government senators do not agree with this recommendation.
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