Education, Science and Training

Additional Places in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Programme

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Education, Science and Training	3.6	3.7	3.8	3.9

The Government will provide an additional $15.0 million over four years for the Language, Literacy and Numeracy Programme, which provides basic language, literacy and numeracy assistance to job seekers, including migrant job seekers.

The additional funding will provide around 1,300 new places a year to assist in meeting the increased demand from migrants for basic English language places in the programme.

Australian National Training Authority — abolition

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Education, Science and Training	-2.7	-3.1	-3.1	-3.1

The Government has announced the transfer of the functions of the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) to the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST), effective from 1 July 2005. Relocating ANTA functions will provide savings of $12.0 million over four years.

The Government also provided funding of $2.8 million in 2004-05 to meet transitional costs associated with the wind-up of ANTA as part of the 2004-05 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

Further information can be found in the Prime Minister’s press release of 22 October 2004.

Australian network of industry career advisors

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Education, Science and Training	27.5	37.7	38.7	39.4

The Government will provide $143.2 million over four years to establish a national network of industry career advisors. Advisors will support young people, aged 13-19, in achieving a successful transition through school, and from school to further education, training and work. Building on existing programmes and the network of Local Community Partnerships, this measure will facilitate access to career services, mentoring and vocational pathway programmes.

This measure was announced on 26 September 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment Australian Network of Industry Career Advisors.

Commonwealth radioactive waste management facility

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Education, Science and Training	3.4	7.1	2.6	-

The Government will provide funding of $13.0 million over the next three years to progress responsible management of radioactive waste generated by Australian Government agencies. The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that the small amount of radioactive waste produced within its jurisdiction is managed in a responsible manner.

Continuation of the Australian Government Quality Teacher Programme

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Education, Science and Training	-13.6	-0.3	-0.3	-0.3

The Government will provide funding of $139.9 million over the four calendar years from 2006 to 2009 ($125.5 million over the period 2005-06 to 2008-09) to continue the Australian Government Quality Teacher Programme. Funding will be used for projects to improve teaching quality and teaching performance and for initiatives such as the National Institute for Quality Teaching and School Leadership.

Provision for this funding already has been included in the forward estimates.

The reduction in expenses of $14.4 million over the period 2005-06 to 2008-09 reflects the re-profiling associated with the change from a financial year to a calendar year programme. This will align the programme’s funding arrangements with the school year and result in a revised funding profile of $20.3 million in 2005-06, $34.3 million in 2006-07, $35.1 million in 2007-08 and $35.8 million in 2008-09.

This measure was announced on 3 October 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment The Coalition’s Plan for Higher Standards and Values in Schools.

Further information can be found in the press release of 8 April 2005 issued by the Minister for Education, Science and Training.

Implementation of Higher Education Reforms

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Education, Science and Training	2.2	2.0	2.5	2.6

The Government will provide an additional $9.2 million over four years for the implementation of the Higher Education Reform Package, Our Universities — Backing Australia’s Future, announced in the 2003-04 Budget.

Institute for Trade Skill Excellence

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Education, Science and Training	4.3	6.8	6.8	4.8

The Government will provide $22.9 million over four years to establish an Institute for Trade Skill Excellence, which will provide industry endorsement of registered training organisations. The Institute will reward excellence and promote improvements in trade training. It will also improve the status of trades where there are skill shortages.

This measure was announced on 22 September 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment Institute for Trade Skill Excellence.

James Cook University — Additional Veterinary Science and Tropical Agriculture Places

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Education, Science and Training	1.7	3.1	4.2	5.0
Related revenue ($m)
Department of Education, Science and Training	-	..	..	0.1
Related capital ($m)
Department of Education, Science and Training	-	-	-	-

The Government will provide a total of $14.0 million over four years to meet the costs of an additional 50 undergraduate veterinary science and 50 undergraduate tropical agriculture places at James Cook University each year. The first 100 places will begin in 2006.

Amounts loaned under the Higher Education Loans Programme (HELP) for students taking up these places are treated as financial assets and therefore do not impact on the fiscal balance. Payments by students of the indexation component of their HELP loan are treated as interest revenue. These payments will impact on the fiscal balance from 2006-07.

This measure was announced on 21 September 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment Supporting North Queensland.

New Apprentice poaching — adjusting incentive payments

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Education, Science and Training	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.1

The Government will provide $0.7 million over four years to ensure that employers are not financially disadvantaged by the operation of New Apprenticeship incentives when New Apprentices, before completing their training, move to a new employer. This initiative will share the completion incentive payment under the New Apprenticeships Incentives Programme between employers who have provided 25 per cent or more of a new apprentice’s training.

This measure was announced on 23 September 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment Step Up to a New Apprenticeship in the Trades.

New Apprentices — increased residential support

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Education, Science and Training	0.5	1.7	1.8	1.8

The Government will increase residential support for New Apprentices at a cost of $5.8 million over four years. The Living Away from Home Allowance provided under the New Apprenticeships Incentives Programme will be extended to New Apprentices in the third year of their apprenticeship at the rate of $25 per week.

This measure was announced on 17 September 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment Residential Support for New Apprentices.

New Apprenticeship incentives — broadening eligibility

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Education, Science and Training	0.3	0.7	0.8	0.9

The Government will provide funding of $2.6 million over four years to expand eligibility for New Apprenticeship employer incentives. From 1 July 2005 employers will be able to apply for incentives for New Apprentices who have attained self-funded Certificate I – IV qualifications (commenced within two years of leaving school) through TAFE or private training organisations.

This measure was announced on 23 September 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment Step Up to a New Apprenticeship in the Trades.

New Apprenticeship Sporting Operations Incentive — withdrawal

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Education, Science and Training	-0.3	-0.9	-1.1	-1.1

The Sporting Operations Employer Incentive provided under the New Apprenticeships Incentives Programme will no longer be available for new commencements from 1 July 2005, resulting in savings of $3.5 million over four years.

The $3,300 incentive, which comes on top of standard employer incentives, is currently paid to employers of competitive sports people to encourage them to provide training in the sport and recreation industry. Employers of competitive sports people undertaking or wishing to undertake New Apprenticeships will remain eligible for standard commencement and completion incentives provided by the Government.

Our Universities — additional medical places at James Cook University

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Education, Science and Training	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2
Related capital ($m)
Department of Education, Science and Training	-	-	-	-
Related revenue ($m)
Department of Education, Science and Training	..	..	..	..

The Government will provide a total of $1.1 million over five years (including $0.2 million in 2004-05) for an additional 12 places for students to study Medicine at James Cook University.

Amounts loaned under the Higher Education Loans Programme (HELP) for students taking up these places are treated as financial assets and therefore do not impact on the fiscal balance. Payments by students of the indexation component of their HELP loan are treated as interest revenue. These payments will impact on the fiscal balance from 2005-06.

Our Universities — additional funding for the Australian National University

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Education, Science and Training	5.5	8.4	-	-

The Government will provide funding of $16.5 million over three years (including $2.7 million in 2004-05), to increase the Australian Government’s contribution to student places at the Institute of Advanced Studies in the Australian National University.

The Government announced increases in university funding per student place in the 2003-04 Budget. This measure will ensure that the Institute of Advanced Studies also benefits from the funding increases.

Pre-vocational training in trades

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Education, Science and Training	4.4	4.4	5.5	5.6

The Government will provide funding of $20.0 million over four years for pre-vocational training, to assist up to 4,500 people interested in careers in the traditional trades to gain access to the New Apprenticeship system.

This measure was announced on 23 September 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment Step Up to a New Apprenticeship in the Trades.

School-based New Apprentices in the trades — increased opportunities

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Education, Science and Training	1.4	4.4	8.9	11.3

The Government will provide $25.9 million over four years for an additional 7000 school-based New Apprenticeships in traditional trades. Particular priority will be given to areas that are under-serviced, and to trades that are experiencing increasing demand and/or skills shortages.

This measure was announced on 23 September 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment Step Up to a New Apprenticeship in the Trades.

Student Financial Supplement Scheme — simplification of administrative arrangements

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Education, Science and Training	-12.7	-15.1	-6.0	0.3

The Government will assume all outstanding Student Financial Supplement Scheme (SFSS) loans currently administered by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) on behalf of the Australian Government, as of 1 December 2005. This will lead to expected savings in interest and management fees previously payable to the CBA of $37.4 million over three years.

Funding of $2.8 million over four years will be used for implementation costs for Centrelink, including IT system changes, and $1.0 million over four years for the Department of Education, Science and Training will be used for administration and implementation of the change in arrangements.

This measure will also align the SFSS repayment thresholds and indexation with those applying under the Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP). In addition, the definition of taxable income used under the HELP arrangements will also be applied to the SFSS.

Transition (School to Work) Programmes

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Education, Science and Training	-	-	-	-

The Government provided $8.0 million in 2004-05 to meet the expenses incurred by the Enterprise and Career Education Foundation prior to it ceasing operations on 23 January 2005. The Government announced in the 2003-04 Budget that the Foundation would cease operations, with its functions transferred to the Department of Education, Science and Training.

Unspent funding of $10.9 million held by the Foundation has been returned to the Budget.

University of Western Sydney — infrastructure projects

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Education, Science and Training	8.0	8.0	9.0	-

The Government will provide $25.0 million over three years to the University of Western Sydney for a range of infrastructure projects, including teaching facilities at the Parramatta and Hawkesbury campuses, a new library at the Penrith campus and a medical training facility at the Campbelltown campus.

This measure was announced on 19 September 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment Supporting Western Sydney.

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