Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING ACT 1988

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

           Long Title

            

CHAPTER 1--Introductory
            

   1.      Short title  
   2.      Commencement  
   2A.     Objects of Act  
   3.      Definitions  
   4.      Institutions  
   5.      References to payments and Acts  
   6.      Proposed institutions  
   7.      Provision for superannuation, long service leave or workers' compensation  
   8.      Special fund for Table A institutions  
   8A.     Special fund for Table B institutions  
   9.      Making and variation of determinations etc.  
   10.     References to the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory  
   11.     Application of the Criminal Code  
            

CHAPTER 2--Grants for Higher Education Assistance
            

   PART 2.1----PRELIMINARY

   12.     Institutions to which provisions apply  
   13.     Undergraduate and post - graduate fees  
   14.     Educational profiles  

   PART 2.2----OPERATING AND OTHER GRANTS

   15.     Grants for expenditure for operating purposes  
   16.     Grants for expenditure for limited operating purposes  
   17.     Maximum grants  
   18.     Conditions of grants  
   19.     Grants for restructuring and rationalisation programs  
   20.     Grants for superannuation expenses  
   20A.    Grants for special purposes  
   20B.    Grant to Marcus Oldham College  
   21.     Proposals and grants for projects of national priority etc.  
   21A.    Conditions on certain grants under section 21  
   21B.    Grants in relation to innovation in, or quality of, higher education  
   22.     Promotion of equality of opportunity  
   22A.    Grants to open learning organisations  
   23.     Special research assistance  
   23A.    Grants for advanced engineering centres  
   23B.    Conditions of grants for advanced engineering centres  
   23BA.   Grants to co - operative multimedia centres  
   23C.    Limit on total funds available for certain grants  
   24.     Grants in respect of teaching hospitals  
   25.     Grants in respect of drug and alcohol education in teaching hospitals  
   25A.    Grants to support student organisations--payments to institutions  
   25B.    Grants to support student organisations--direct payments  
   26.     Guidelines for non - building capital projects  
   27.     Guidelines for special capital projects  
   27A.    Grants for special capital projects  
   27B.    Minister may give directions in relation to special capital projects  
   27C.    Conditions attaching to special capital grants  
   27D.    Expenditure on international marketing and promotion  

   PART 2.4----TRANSITIONAL

   28.     Adjustments where estimated 1988 enrolments not equal to actual enrolments  
            

CHAPTER 4--Higher Education Contribution Scheme
            

   PART 4.1----PRELIMINARY

   34.     Interpretation  
   35.     Exempt students  
   36.     Student load not to include work experience in industry  
   37.     Semesters  

   PART 4.2----CONTRIBUTIONS

           Division 1--Additional condition of grant of financial assistance

   38.     Additional condition  

           Division 2--Imposition and payment of contributions

   39.     Requirement to pay contributions  
   40.     Annual course contribution  
   40A.    Annual Band amounts that apply from 1997  
   41.     Requirements before enrolment or undertaking course  
   41A.    Institutions to give students certain information on enrolment  
   41B.    Certain students to give tax file number information by census date  
   41C.    Student must be excluded from course if tax file number information not provided  
   42.     Power of Commissioner to inform institution concerning tax file number  
   42A.    Institution to cancel enrolment of student without tax file number  
   43.     Application for issue or notification of tax file number  
   44.     Issuing of tax file numbers  
   45.     Current tax file number  
   46.     Deemed refusal by Commissioner  
   47.     Cancellation of tax file numbers  
   48.     Alteration of tax file numbers  
   49.     Notification of issued tax file numbers  
   50.     Review of decisions  
   51.     Statements to accompany notification of decisions  
   52.     Unauthorised requirement etc. that tax file number be quoted  
   53.     Unauthorised recording etc. of tax file number  
   54.     Notice by institution  
   55.     Requests for correction of notices  
   56.     Overpayment of contribution  
   56A.    Institution to refund student payment if enrolment cancelled under section 41C  
   56B.    Institution to refund student payment if enrolment cancelled under section 42A  
   56C.    Electronic communications from students to institutions  
   56D.    Electronic signature of communications by students  
   56E.    Electronic communications from institutions to students  

           Division 3--Discharge by Commonwealth of students' liabilities for contributions

   57.     Commonwealth to discharge students' liabilities  
   58.     Institutions to provide information to Minister  

   PART 4.4----REPAYMENT OF LOANS

           Division 5--Miscellaneous

   78.     Secrecy  

   PART 4.5----ABOLITION OF HIGHER EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION CHARGE

           Division 4--Canberra Institute of the Arts

   96.     Charges not to be imposed  
            

CHAPTER 4A--Post-graduate education loan scheme
            

   PART 4A.1----PRELIMINARY

   98A.    Definitions  
   98AA.   Eligible private institution  
   98B.    Eligible student  

   PART 4A.2----ADDITIONAL CONDITION OF GRANT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

   98C.    Additional condition  

   PART 4A.3----APPLICATIONS FOR AND GRANTS OF PELS LOANS

           Division 1--Application for PELS loan

   98D.    Making an application for a PELS loan  
   98E.    Tax file number of student  
   98F.    Notice by institution  

           Division 2--Discharge by Commonwealth of students' liability for fees

   98G.    Commonwealth to discharge students' liabilities  
   98H.    Commonwealth not liable where person does not have a tax file number  
   98J.    Institution to provide information to Minister about post - graduate students  
   98JA.   Eligible private institution to report information  

   PART 4A.4----MISCELLANEOUS

   98K.    Secrecy  
   98L.    Annual statement  
   98M.    Electronic communications between students and institutions  
            

CHAPTER 4B--Bridging for overseas-trained professionals (BOTP) loan scheme
            

   PART 4B.1----INTRODUCTION

   98N.    Simplified outline  
   98NA.   No financial assistance payable  
   98P.    Definitions  
   98Q.    Occupation  
   98R.    Requirements for entry to occupation  
   98S.    Listed professional occupations and relevant assessing bodies  
   98T.    Assessment statement given by relevant assessing body  
   98U.    BOTP course  
   98V.    Citizenship/residency requirements  

   PART 4B.2----ADDITIONAL CONDITION OF GRANT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

   98W.    Additional condition  

   PART 4B.3----APPLICATIONS FOR, AND GRANTS OF, BOTP LOANS

           Division 1--Application for BOTP loan

   98X.    Making an application for a BOTP loan  
   98Y.    Tax file number of student  
   98Z.    Notice by institution  

           Division 2--Discharge by the Commonwealth of students' liability for fees

   98ZAA.  Application of Division  
   98ZA.   Commonwealth to discharge students' liabilities  
   98ZB.   Commonwealth not liable where person does not have a tax file number  
   98ZC.   Institution to provide information to Minister  

   PART 4B.4----MISCELLANEOUS

   98ZD.   Secrecy  
   98ZE.   Annual statement  
   98ZF.   Electronic communications between students and institutions  
            

CHAPTER 5--Open Learning Deferred Payment Scheme
            

   PART 5.1----PRELIMINARY

   99.     Interpretation  
   100.    Object of Part  
   101.    Eligible clients  
   103.    Standard study load  

   PART 5.2----CHARGES

           Division 1--Payment of basic charges

   104.    Basic charge  
   105.    Eligible client may join deferred payment scheme  
   106A.   Tax file number of eligible client  
   106AA.  Agency to notify Minister where tax file number not provided  
   106AB.  Commonwealth not liable where client does not have a tax file number  
   106B.   Notice by Agency  
   106C.   Requests for correction of notices  
   106CA.  Electronic communications between clients and Agency  

           Division 2--Discharge by Commonwealth of clients' liability for basic charges

   106D.   Commonwealth to discharge clients' liabilities  
   106E.   Agency to provide information to Minister  

   PART 5.3----MISCELLANEOUS

   106F.   Secrecy  
   106FA.  Annual statement  
            

CHAPTER 5A--Repayment of loans made under Chapters 4, 4A, 4B and 5
            

   PART 5A.1----PRELIMINARY

   106H.   Interpretation  
   106I.   Object of Part  

   PART 5A.2----NATURE OF INDEBTEDNESS

   106J.   HEC semester debt  
   106JA.  PELS semester debt  
   106JB.  BOTP semester debt  
   106K.   OL study period debt  
   106KA.  Semester debts do not arise after 1 January 2005  
   106L.   Power of Secretary to remit debt in special circumstances  
   106M.   Reconsideration of decision and appeal to Administrative Review Tribunal  
   106MA.  Further review of reconsideration decision concerning remission of semester debt  
   106N.   Calculation of accumulated HEC debt  
   106O.   Accumulated HEC debt discharges earlier debts  

   PART 5A.3----DISCHARGE OF INDEBTEDNESS

           Division 1--Voluntary discharge of indebtedness

   106P.   Voluntary payments in respect of debts  
   106PA.  Repayment of debt under this Chapter  

           Division 1A--Voluntary repayments of accumulated HEC debt

   106PB.  Notice to Commissioner  
   106PC.  Voluntary payments in respect of accumulated HEC debt  

           Division 2--Requirement to discharge indebtedness

   106Q.   Compulsory payments in respect of accumulated HEC debt  

           Division 3--Returns and assessments

   106R.   Agency etc. to provide information to Commissioner  
   106T.   Assessment  
   106U.   Application of tax legislation  
   106V.   Notification on notices of assessment of tax  
   106W.   Power of Commissioner to defer assessment or reduce assessment to nil  
   106X.   Review of decision of Commissioner  

           Division 4--Miscellaneous

   106Y.   Application of payments  
   106YA.  Effect of bankruptcy  
   106Z.   Indebtedness discharged by death  
   106ZA.  Secrecy  
            

CHAPTER 5B--Limit on student debt to Commonwealth
            

   PART 5B.1----PRELIMINARY

   106ZB.  Definitions  

   PART 5B.2----ADDITIONAL CONDITION OF GRANT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

   106ZC.  Additional condition  

   PART 5B.3----MAXIMUM PERMITTED DEBT

   106ZD.  Minister may determine maximum permitted debt  

   PART 5B.4----LOAN LIMIT NOTICES

   106ZE.  Commissioner to give loan limit notice  
   106ZF.  Cancelling loan limit notice  
   106ZG.  Consequences of loan limit notice--no amounts payable by Commonwealth  

   PART 5B.5----SUSPENSION NOTICES

   106ZH.  Commissioner must give suspension notice  
   106ZJ.  Consequences of suspension notice--HECS courses  

   PART 5B.6----SECRECY

   106ZK.  Secrecy  
            

CHAPTER 6--Miscellaneous
            

   107.    Benefits of, and opportunities created by, grants to be equally available to female and male students  
   108.    Additional conditions  
   109.    Amendments affecting entitlements to grants  
   110.    Legislative instruments  
   110A.   Transitional financial assistance  
   110B.   Commonwealth not liable where person later gives correct information  
   111.    Time and manner of payments  
   112.    Delegation  
   112A.   Application of the Taxation Administration Act 1953  
   113.    Advances  
   115.    Authority to borrow  
   116.    Application of money borrowed  
   118.    Appropriation  
   119.    Report by Minister  
   120.    Regulations  
           SCHEDULE 1 Institutions or bodies eligible for special research assistance