Transcript - ABC Radio

BRANSEN GIBSON, HOST: Government MP, Patrick Gorman, is the member for Perth. He is also the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister. Patrick, good morning.

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Bransen and good morning to your listeners.

GIBSON: Patrick, let's start with student debt. Why is student debt - reducing student debt, pardon me - a priority for the government?

GORMAN: We introduced our bill to cut student debt by 20 per cent as the first bill of the 48th Parliament. We know that it is a big burden for people who are paying off those loans, when they have done everything we want them to do. Which is to go and get the skills, whether it be at TAFE or university, so they can be a productive member of the society and contribute to our economy. And so what we wanted to do is to help out people who are paying back that debt. But the other thing that is really important for your listeners is that we are lifting the thresholds up to $67,000. So you will not start paying back those loans until you are really starting to earn and that will make a real difference for people, particularly whether they may be going back to TAFE to get an additional qualification, or if they are doing further study at university.

GIBSON: Right, okay. Well, the legislation won't apply to loans that were paid off over a year ago. But will it have an impact on future loans? Will it reduce the cost of studying at university in the future?

GORMAN: It will reduce debts, as people had them on 1 June of this year. But what it will also do is, the ongoing commitment we have got to students, is to lift those repayment thresholds. So you are not going to start paying off those debts until you are earning. We think that is the right way through. We have also got other initiatives where, if people are looking at their study options and their skill options, they can go to our Free TAFE program that we deliver in partnership with the Cook Government. And that program makes sure that we can get people the skills that they want, and they do not have to pay anything for those course fees. And we have had huge success with that program. I am told that across the Durack electorate, of which your listeners are predominantly in, some 5000 people are enrolled in those Free TAFE programmes right now.

GIBSON: Right, okay. ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt. I'm chatting to Government MP, Patrick Gorman, who is the member for Perth and also the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister. Patrick another focus this morning will be child care and the Government intervention, which aims to improve standards across centres around Australia. What is going to be the threshold for child care funding to be cut? Because that's one option that's on the cards.

GORMAN: We have introduced the legislation that will cut funding to centres when they are not up to scratch. If they persistently fail to meet the standards, and if they repeatedly breach the national laws that have stood for many years about the standards expected of child care centres. Now that is what parents and the community at large expect, is that if you are receiving a Government subsidy to deliver a service, you comply with the law and you comply with the standards. And I want to be clear to your listeners, because I know that - you know, I have got children who have used and benefited from child care. This is not about trying to shut centres down. It is about trying to lift standards up, because every child, wherever they are in Australia, should have access to high quality early childhood education and care.

GIBSON: Okay, well, following the truly awful incidents that took place in Victoria, with the childcare educator being accused of a score of child sex offences, an idea that's come up is for a national educator register. Is that something that is being considered by the government?

GORMAN: We are welcoming all suggestions about how we make sure that we have a safe and stable system, to make sure that every child, wherever they are getting education, be it schools or childcare, is safe. We have been really clear, and the Attorney-General has been really clear, that we do see that there needs to be a reform of Working With Children Checks. It will be the first item on the agenda when the Standing Council of Attorneys-General meets next month, and we are hopeful that we can get some National reform working with the States and Territories.

GIBSON: Right, okay. Well, obviously, Parliament is sitting for the first time since the Federal Election. That was less than two months ago. That time we saw, the campaign was pretty feisty between all sides of politics. Now the parliament's resumed. Are all the parties actually going to be able to work together, do you think?

GORMAN: We do see the parliament come together and work together on things where we need to act in the national interest. It is also important for our democracy that we debate things out. That there are different ideas put forward. I hope that can be done in a way that means, that people feel that these ideas and legislation that is put to the Parliament, are truly tested. But also, I recognise that people want us to get things done. Parliament's not just about the debate. It is also about the doing and the delivery. And that is my real focus. But I will say, if you don't mind me saying Bransen, to your listeners, in between that election on the 3rd of May and us being sworn into parliament yesterday for the 48th Parliament, I did enjoy a week heading through the Midwest for a little holiday with the family over the school holidays. We had a lovely lunch in Geraldton, spent some time driving through Jurien Bay, all the way up to Kalbarri.

GIBSON: Beauty.

GORMAN: And I have got to say, I think that put me in the right mindset to be back here in the Parliament. Batteries are completely recharged and ready to go.

GIBSON: Excellent. That's good to hear. Patrick, we've just had a question come in from Rod in Dukin talking about student debt and the HELP loan repayments. He asks; will foreign students get the subsidy or the reduction in debt?

GORMAN: Rod, what I will tell you is that, most foreign students pay their university upfront. So, they do not accumulate a HECS debt - that tends to be predominantly for Australian domestic students. And so it really is for Australians who engage with our tax system and actually have accumulated those debts. And similar with our Free TAFE program. Our Free TAFE program is there to make sure Australians can get the skills they need. Students who might be here - and international education is an excellent export that we provide - but one of the reasons it is so good for our economy is that those students pay their fees upfront.

GIBSON: Right, okay, there you go Rod. Hope that answers your question. Patrick, we'll leave it there. Thank you so much for your time this morning. Have a great Wednesday.

GORMAN: Thanks Bransen, and thanks to your listeners.