Higher Education Funding Act 1988

The Minister may approve a proposal for expenditure by a co‑operative multimedia centre if the Minister is satisfied that the purposes of the proposal include:

arranging for, or providing services related to, education and training; and

undertaking other activities;

If the Minister approves a proposal under subsection (1), the Minister must, subject to section 23C, determine an amount of approved expenditure in respect of the proposal in respect of the year commencing on the date of the approval and each of the 2 succeeding years.

Financial assistance is granted to a co‑operative multimedia centre in respect of a proposal approved under subsection (1) on condition that the centre enters into an agreement with the Commonwealth that sets out the terms on which money is provided by the Commonwealth and accepted by the centre.

After the start of the third year of funding of a co‑operative multimedia centre the Minister must arrange for a review of the operations of the centre to be conducted. The review is to be completed not later than 6 months before the end of the third year of funding.

If the Minister is satisfied, on the basis of the review, that the multimedia centre has substantially assisted in the development of the multimedia industry, the Minister may approve a further proposal for expenditure by the centre that meets the criteria specified in subsection (1).

If the Minister approves a further proposal under subsection (5), the Minister must determine an amount of approved expenditure in respect of the proposal in respect of each of the 4 years following the end of the third year of funding or in respect of each of such lesser number of years as the Minister thinks appropriate.

Financial assistance is granted to a co‑operative multimedia centre in respect of a further proposal approved under subsection (5) on condition that the centre enters into a further agreement with the Commonwealth that sets out the terms on which money is provided by the Commonwealth and accepted by the centre.

There is payable to a co‑operative multimedia centre in respect of a year an amount equal to the approved expenditure determined by the Minister under subsection (2) or (6) in respect of that centre and that year.