Bill
Trade Support Loans Bill 2014
passed, as at 2014-07-17. Industry portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Industry
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2014-06-04
- second reading — 2014-06-04
- second reading — 2014-06-19
- second reading — 2014-06-23
- second reading — 2014-06-24
- second reading — 2014-06-24
- third reading — 2014-06-24
- introduced — 2014-06-26
- second reading — 2014-06-26
- second reading — 2014-07-14
- second reading — 2014-07-14
- committee — 2014-07-14
- third reading — 2014-07-14
- other — 2014-07-15
- passed — 2014-07-15
- royal assent — 2014-07-17
Divisions
- The majority voted in favour of a [motion](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2014-06-24.19.1) proposed by Liberal Minister [Christopher Pyne](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/sturt/christopher_pyne). The motion would've 'gagged' debate by speeding up the consideration of the bills. ### Wording to the motion > *That, in relation to proceedings on the [Trade Support Loans Bill 2014](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5264) and the [Trade Support Loans (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2014](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5263), so much of the [standing orders](http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/standing-orders.html) be suspended as would prevent the following from occurring:* > *(1) the resumption of debate on the [second readings](http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html) of the bills being called on together;* > *(2) at the conclusion of the [second reading debate](http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html), not including a Minister speaking in reply, or 45 minutes after the resumption of the second reading debate, whichever is the earlier, a Minister being called to sum up the second reading debate and then without delay (a) one question being put on any amendments moved to motions for the second readings by opposition Members, (b) any necessary questions being put on amendments moved by any other Member, and (c) one question being put on the second readings of the bills together;* > *(3) if the second readings of the bills have been agreed to, a message from the Governor-General recommending an appropriation for the Trade Support Loans Bill 2014 being announced;* > *(4) the [consideration in detail stages](http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html), if required, on the bills being taken together for a period not exceeding 20 minutes at which time an — 2014-06-24, House of Representatives: affirmative, ayes 78, noes 56
- The majority agreed to add Labor Senator [Kim Carr](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/kim_carr)'s [proviso](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2014-07-14.25.2) to the [motion](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/divisions/senate/2014-07-14/10) to agree with the bills' main idea. ### What was Senator Kim Carr's proviso? Senator Carr proposed to add the [following proviso](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2014-07-14.25.2), which was agreed to by the Senate: > *At the end of the motion [to agree to the main idea of the bills], add:* > *but the Senate notes that the Government has failed to:* >> *(a) advise apprentices before the election that they would be abolishing the [Tools for Your Trade](http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/program/tools-your-trade-payment) program, thus leaving [Trade Support Loans](http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/trade-support-loans) as the only form of assistance for the purchase of tools;* >> *(b) adequately ensure that clear and easily understood explanations of the loan, the indexing and the repayment requirements are provided to all apprentices in a consistent format, in particular for school-based apprentices;* >> *(c) put in place adequate privacy protections for the large volumes of information that will be acquired through the Trade Support Loans Program; and* >> *(d) offer:* >>> *(i) fair and reasonable transition arrangements for current apprentices; and* >>> *(ii) apprentices the option of lump sum payments in order to purchase expensive items.* ### Main idea of the bills The bills create the Trade Support Loans Programme that will give apprentices access to a $20,000 loan, like the loans already available for university students under [HECS](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tertiary_education_fees_in_Australia#HECS). ### Background to the bills Prime Minister [Tony Abbott](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/warringah/tony_abbott) [promised to create](http://www.abc.n — 2014-07-14, Senate: affirmative, ayes 36, noes 32
- Trade Support Loans Bill 2014, Trade Support Loans (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2014 - Second Reading - Agree to the main idea (with two provisos) — 2014-07-14, Senate: affirmative, ayes 47, noes 16
- The majority voted against [amendments](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2014-07-14.167.1) introduced by Greens Senator [Lee Rhiannon](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/lee_rhiannon). ### What were the amendments? Senator Rhiannon [explained](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2014-07-14.167.1) that the amendments would have "increase[d] the repayment income threshold and provide[d] for lower repayment rates". ### Main idea of the bills The bills create the Trade Support Loans Programme that will give apprentices access to a $20,000 loan, like the loans already available for university students under [HECS](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tertiary_education_fees_in_Australia#HECS). ### Background to the bills Prime Minister [Tony Abbott](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/warringah/tony_abbott) [promised to create](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-27/apprentice-loan-promise-check/5519824) this new loan programme during the [2013 election campaign](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_federal_election,_2013). — 2014-07-14, Senate: negative, ayes 16, noes 39
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2014-06-04.
This bill is part of a package that creates the Trade Support Loans Programme, which provides concessional, income-contingent loans to apprentices.
The loans have a lifetime limit of $20,000 (indexed from 2017) and are repayable when the borrower's income reaches the HELP repayment threshold.
A 20% discount on the loan is applied when an Australian Apprentice successfully completes their apprenticeship.
- Establishes the Trade Support Loans Programme.
- Sets a $20,000 lifetime loan limit, indexed from 2017.
- Provides a 20% loan discount upon successful completion of an apprenticeship.
- Makes loans repayable when income reaches the HELP repayment threshold.
- Makes consequential amendments to existing legislation via the related bill.
Australian Apprentices who need financial support to cover personal costs during their apprenticeship.
Sources
em
billhome
frl act