Division
The majority voted against [an amendment](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-11-09.193.1) introduced by Greens Senator [Robert Simms](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/sa/robert_simms). ### Amendment text > *At the end of the motion, add:* > *", but the Senate calls on the Government to use existing mutual taxation agreements to assist in the identification of foreign residents and overseas travellers required to repay HELP [[Higher Education Loan Programme](https://www.education.gov.au/higher-education-loan-program-help)] or TSL [[Trade Support Loan](http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/trade-support-loans)] debt, rather than require those residents and travellers to comply with changes in Australian law.".* ### What does this amendment mean? Senator Simms introduced this amendment in order to "tak[e] the onus off the individual" (see his [whole explanation](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-11-09.193.1)). Currently, the bills make it the responsibility of overseas Australians (or Australians planning on being overseas for over six months) to be aware of the new requirement to repay their debts and to register with the Australian Taxation Office. ### What exactly do the bills do? **These bills relate to the policy [for requiring Australians working overseas to repay their student debts](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/policies/82).** If made into law, the bills will require Australians living overseas and earning over the threshold (which was $54,126 in 2015–16) to repay their [Higher Education Loan Programme](https://www.education.gov.au/higher-education-loan-program-help) (HELP) debt or [Trade Support Loan](http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/trade-support-loans) (TSL) debt under the same compulsory repayment scheme that applies in Australia. The bills will also require Australians with HELP or TSL debts to notify the Commissioner of Taxation if they plan to be overseas for at least 183 days or if they have been
Senate, 2015-11-09. negative: ayes 9, noes 33.
Question
The majority voted against [an amendment](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-11-09.193.1) introduced by Greens Senator [Robert Simms](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/sa/robert_simms). ### Amendment text > *At the end of the motion, add:* > *", but the Senate calls on the Government to use existing mutual taxation agreements to assist in the identification of foreign residents and overseas travellers required to repay HELP [[Higher Education Loan Programme](https://www.education.gov.au/higher-education-loan-program-help)] or TSL [[Trade Support Loan](http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/trade-support-loans)] debt, rather than require those residents and travellers to comply with changes in Australian law.".* ### What does this amendment mean? Senator Simms introduced this amendment in order to "tak[e] the onus off the individual" (see his [whole explanation](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-11-09.193.1)). Currently, the bills make it the responsibility of overseas Australians (or Australians planning on being overseas for over six months) to be aware of the new requirement to repay their debts and to register with the Australian Taxation Office. ### What exactly do the bills do? **These bills relate to the policy [for requiring Australians working overseas to repay their student debts](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/policies/82).** If made into law, the bills will require Australians living overseas and earning over the threshold (which was $54,126 in 2015–16) to repay their [Higher Education Loan Programme](https://www.education.gov.au/higher-education-loan-program-help) (HELP) debt or [Trade Support Loan](http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/trade-support-loans) (TSL) debt under the same compulsory repayment scheme that applies in Australia. The bills will also require Australians with HELP or TSL debts to notify the Commissioner of Taxation if they plan to be overseas for at least 183 days or if they have been
How each member voted
Per-member votes are not present in this static export. Consult the original division record.
Related bills
- Education Legislation Amendment (Overseas Debt Recovery) Bill 2015
- Student Loans (Overseas Debtors Repayment Levy) Bill 2015
Only formal divisions leave a per-member record. A procedural vote is not necessarily a vote for or against a bill.