Higher Education Funding Act 1988

The Minister may approve a proposal for expenditure by an open learning organisation for purposes connected with the provision of tertiary courses and units of study.

The Minister may approve a proposal for expenditure by all or any of the following:

an open learning organisation;

an institution;

another incorporated body;

to clients of an open learning organisation; or

to such other persons as are identified, in accordance with subsection (2A), by the Minister in the notice approving the proposal for expenditure.

The Minister may identify persons for the purposes of paragraph (2)(e) in respect of a proposal for expenditure only if the Minister is satisfied that provision of teaching and learning assistance to those persons under that proposal:

accords with national tertiary education priorities; and

will foster open learning approaches in the provision of tertiary education services.

If the Minister approves a proposal under subsection (1) or (2) in respect of a year, then, subject to subsection (5):

the Minister must determine an amount as the estimated total expenditure on the proposal for the year; and

the Minister must determine an amount of approved expenditure in relation to the proposal for the year; and

the amount of approved expenditure on the proposal for the year must not be greater than the amount of estimated total expenditure on the proposal for the year.

There is payable to an open learning organisation under subsection (1) or to an open learning organisation, institution or other body under subsection (2) an amount equal to the approved expenditure determined by the Minister under subsection (3) in respect of that agency or that organisation, institution or other body, as the case requires.

The total of the amounts of approved expenditure determined by the Minister under subsection (3) in respect of proposals approved under subsections (1) and (2) must not exceed:

for the year 1993—$10,945,000; and

for the year 1994—$11,680,000; and

for the year 1995—$12,675,000; and

for the year 1996—$12,632,000;

for the year 1997—$215,000; and

for the year 1998—$218,000; and

for the year 1999—$221,000; and

for the year 2000—$225,000; and

for the year 2001—$230,000; and

for the year 2002—$235,000; and

for the year 2003—$241,000; and

for the year 2004—$247,000.

Financial assistance is granted to an open learning organisation in respect of a proposal approved under subsection (1) on condition that the organisation enter into an agreement with the Commonwealth that sets out the terms on which money is provided by the Commonwealth and accepted by the organisation.

Financial assistance is granted to an open learning organisation, institution or other body in respect of a proposal approved under subsection (2) on condition that the organisation, institution or other body enter into an agreement with the Commonwealth setting out the terms on which money is provided by the Commonwealth and accepted by the organisation, institution or other body.