Summary

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The majority voted in favour of the motion "That schedule 5 stand as printed." This means that the schedule will remain unchanged. Schedule 5 removes the cap on the number of domestic full-fee places that universities can offer, which is currently capped at 35 per cent of course enrolments and 25 per cent for medicine.

This motion was moved as a result of an amendment moved by Australian Democrats Senator Natasha Stott Despoja that schedule 5 be opposed.

Background to the bill

The bill amends the Higher Education Support Act 2003 in relation to, among other things:

  • funding amounts for the Commonwealth Grant Scheme, Other Grants and Commonwealth Scholarships;
  • maximum tertiary student contribution amounts for certain units of study;(Read more about tertiary fees and funding arrangements in Australia here.

) and

  • removal of certain restrictions on the proportion of domestic undergraduate fee-paying places.(Read more about this bill in its bills digest (101 KB).)

Votes Passed by a small majority

Nobody rebelled against their party.

Party Votes
Australian Democrats (50% turnout) 0 Yes 2 No
Lyn Allison Victoria No
Natasha Stott Despoja SA No
Andrew Bartlett Queensland Absent
Andrew Murray WA Absent
Australian Greens (75% turnout) 0 Yes 3 No
Christine Milne Tasmania No
Kerry Nettle NSW No
Rachel Siewert WA No
Bob Brown Tasmania Absent
Australian Labor Party (78% turnout) 0 Yes 21 No
Mark Bishop WA No
Carol Brown Tasmania No
George Campbell NSW No
Kim Carr Victoria No
Trish Crossin NT No
John Faulkner NSW No
Michael Forshaw NSW No
Linda Kirk SA No
Joe Ludwig Queensland No
Kate Lundy ACT No
Anne McEwen SA No
Claire Moore Queensland No
Kerry O'Brien Tasmania No
Helen Polley Tasmania No
Robert Ray Victoria No
Nick Sherry Tasmania No
Ursula Stephens NSW No
Glenn Sterle WA No
Ruth Webber WA No
Penny Wong SA No
Dana Wortley SA No
Stephen Conroy Victoria Absent
Chris Evans WA Absent
Annette Hurley SA Absent
Steve Hutchins NSW Absent
Gavin Marshall Victoria Absent
Jan McLucas Queensland Absent
Nigel Scullion NT Country Liberal Party Yes
John Hogg Queensland Deputy President No
Steve Fielding Victoria Family First Party No
Liberal Party (81% turnout) 25 Yes 0 No
Eric Abetz Tasmania Yes
Judith Adams WA Yes
Guy Barnett Tasmania Yes
Cory Bernardi SA Yes
Simon Birmingham SA Yes
Sue Boyce Queensland Yes
George Brandis Queensland Yes
Grant Chapman SA Yes
Richard Colbeck Tasmania Yes
Alan Eggleston WA Yes
Alan Ferguson SA Yes
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW Yes
Mitch Fifield Victoria Yes
Mary Fisher SA Yes
Bill Heffernan NSW Yes
David Johnston WA Yes
Rod Kemp Victoria Yes
Ian Macdonald Queensland Yes
Brett Mason Queensland Yes
Nick Minchin SA Yes
Stephen Parry Tasmania Yes
Michael Ronaldson Victoria Yes
Judith Troeth Victoria Yes
Russell Trood Queensland Yes
John Watson Tasmania Yes
Helen Coonan NSW Absent
Chris Ellison WA Absent
Gary Humphries ACT Absent
Ross Lightfoot WA Absent
Kay Patterson Victoria Absent
Marise Payne NSW Absent
National Party (80% turnout) 4 Yes 0 No
Ron Boswell Queensland Yes
Barnaby Joyce Queensland Yes
Sandy Macdonald NSW Yes
Julian McGauran Victoria Yes
Fiona Nash NSW Absent
Paul Calvert Tasmania President Yes
Totals (79% turnout) 31 Yes – 28 No