Schools Assistance (Learning Together—Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Amendment (2007 Budget Measures) Act 2007

Administered by Department of Education

Legislation au C2007A00120 In force Act

Legislation content

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schools Assistance (Learning Together—Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Amendment (2007 Budget Measures) Act 2007

 

No. 120, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

An Act to amend the Schools Assistance (Learning Together—Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Act 2004, and for related purposes

 

 

Contents

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Schedule(s)

Schedule 1—Eligible humanitarian new arrivals

Schools Assistance (Learning Together—Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Act 2004

Schedule 2—Remoteness per capita loading

Schools Assistance (Learning Together—Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Act 2004

 

 

 

Schools Assistance (Learning Together—Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Amendment (2007 Budget Measures) Act 2007

No. 120, 2007

 

 

 

An Act to amend the Schools Assistance (Learning Together—Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Act 2004, and for related purposes

[Assented to 28 June 2007]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

  This Act may be cited as the Schools Assistance (Learning Together—Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Amendment (2007 Budget Measures) Act 2007.

2  Commencement

  This Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

3  Schedule(s)

  Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.


Schedule 1—Eligible humanitarian new arrivals

 

Schools Assistance (Learning Together—Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Act 2004

1  Section 4

Insert:

eligible humanitarian new arrival means a person:

 (a) who is an eligible new arrival; and

 (b) who holds a visa that is specified in a determination made by the Minister for the purposes of this paragraph.

2  Section 4

Insert:

ESL new arrivals humanitarian amount, for a program year, means the amount in Part 3 of Schedule 8 for the program year.

3  Subsection 113(2) (formula)

Repeal the formula, substitute:

4  Subsection 113(2)

Insert:

number of eligible humanitarian new arrivals in government schools means the number of eligible humanitarian new arrivals enrolled in ESL courses, in the State, described in subsection (1).

5  Subsection 113(2) (definition of number of eligible new arrivals in government schools)

After “the number of eligible new arrivals”, insert “, other than eligible humanitarian new arrivals,”.

6  Subsection 114(2) (formula)

Repeal the formula, substitute:

7  Subsection 114(2)

Insert:

number of eligible humanitarian new arrivals in nongovernment schools means the number of eligible humanitarian new arrivals enrolled in ESL courses, in the State, described in subsection (1).

8  Subsection 114(2) (definition of number of eligible new arrivals in nongovernment schools)

After “the number of eligible new arrivals”, insert “, other than eligible humanitarian new arrivals,”.

9  After paragraph 124(1)(c)

Insert:

 (ca) an amount in the table in Part 3 of Schedule 8 for a program year;

10  At the end of Schedule 8

Add:

Part 3—ESL new arrivals humanitarian amount

 

 

ESL new arrivals humanitarian amount

 

Column 1

Program year

Column 2

Amount

($)

1

2005

0

2

2006

0

3

2007

0

4

2008

9,708

Note: The operation of section 124 may affect the amount of the grants.


Schedule 2—Remoteness per capita loading

 

Schools Assistance (Learning Together—Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Act 2004

1  Section 4

Insert:

moderately accessible school campus: a school campus of a nongovernment school is a moderately accessible school campus of a nongovernment school in a State for a program year if the school campus, on either or both of the following days:

 (a) the school campus census day for the school campus in the previous program year;

 (b) the school campus census day for the school campus in the program year;

was, or is, in a location that is categorised under the Remoteness Structure as Outer Regional Australia.

2  Section 4

Insert:

Remoteness Structure means the Remoteness Structure described in the document entitled “Statistical Geography Volume 1 Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) 2001”, published by the Australian Statistician in September 2001, that was effective 1 July 2001.

3  Section 4

Insert:

remote school campus: a school campus of a nongovernment school is a remote school campus of a nongovernment school in a State for a program year if the school campus, on either or both of the following days:

 (a) the school campus census day for the school campus in the previous program year;

 (b) the school campus census day for the school campus in the program year;

was, or is, in a location that is categorised under the Remoteness Structure as Remote Australia.

4  Section 4

Insert:

school campus: a location is a school campus of a nongovernment school if the location is one at which students receive primary education or secondary education at the school.

5  Section 4

Insert:

school campus census day means:

 (a) for a school campus of a nongovernment school for a program year—the schools census day for the school for that program year; or

 (b) for a school campus of a nongovernment school for a program year and in relation to which the Minister has, because of special circumstances, declared a particular day in that program year to be the school campus census day for the school campus for that program year—the day so declared.

6  Section 4

Insert:

very remote school campus: a school campus of a nongovernment school is a very remote school campus of a nongovernment school in a State for a program year if the school campus, on either or both of the following days:

 (a) the school campus census day for the school campus in the previous program year;

 (b) the school campus census day for the school campus in the program year;

was, or is, in a location that is categorised under the Remoteness Structure as Very Remote Australia.

7  Paragraph 53(1)(f)

After “determine a”, insert “different”.

8  Paragraph 53(1)(g)

After “determine a”, insert “different”.

9  After paragraph 53(1)(g)

Insert:

 (ga) determine a different current SES funding level for the school if, immediately before the Minister determined the new SES score, Subdivision G of Division 2 of Part 6 applied to the school; and

10  After subsection 71(7)

Insert:

 (7A) Schools that will receive the remoteness per capita loading are dealt with under Subdivision I.

11  At the end of Subdivision B of Division 2 of Part 6

Add:

77A  Application of Subdivision I—remoteness per capita loading

  Subdivision I applies to a school for a particular program year if:

 (a) there are one or more school campuses of the school during the program year; and

 (b) at least one of the school campuses is a moderately accessible school campus, a remote school campus, or a very remote school campus, for that program year; and

 (c) Subdivision C, D, E, F or G applies to the school for that program year.

Note: Assistance under Subdivision I is in addition to the financial assistance that is available under Subdivision C, D, E, F or G.

12  At the end of Division 2 of Part 6

Add:

Subdivision I—Remoteness per capita loading

98A  Authorising payments

 (1) This section applies to a school in a State for a particular program year if this Subdivision applies to the school for that program year in accordance with section 77A.

Note: Assistance under this Subdivision is in addition to the financial assistance that is available under this Act.

 (2) The Minister may make a determination under this subsection authorising payment of financial assistance to the State for recurrent expenditure of the school for the program year of an amount not more than the amount worked out for the school by adding up:

 (a) the amount worked out under subsection 98B(1) for the school’s primary students (if any) for the program year; and

 (b) the amount worked out under subsection 98B(2) for the school’s primary students (if any) for the program year; and

 (c) the amount worked out under subsection 98B(3) for the school’s primary students (if any) for the program year.

 (3) The Minister may make a determination under this subsection authorising payment of financial assistance to the State for recurrent expenditure of the school for the program year of an amount not more than the amount worked out for the school by adding up:

 (a) the amount worked out under subsection 98C(1) for the school’s secondary students (if any) for the program year; and

 (b) the amount worked out under subsection 98C(2) for the school’s secondary students (if any) for the program year; and

 (c) the amount worked out under subsection 98C(3) for the school’s secondary students (if any) for the program year.

98B  Primary student amount

 (1) For the purposes of paragraph 98A(2)(a), work out the amount for the school’s primary students for the program year using the formula:

  where:

current SES funding level primary amount, for the school for the program year, means the amount in the table in Part 1 of Schedule 4 for the program year and the school’s current SES funding level.

number of relevant primary students, for the school for the program year, means the total number of students (including the fulltime equivalent of parttime students) receiving primary education at a moderately accessible school campus of the school on the school campus census day for the school campus in the program year.

 (2) For the purposes of paragraph 98A(2)(b), work out the amount for the school’s primary students for the program year using the formula:

  where:

current SES funding level primary amount, for the school for the program year, means the amount in the table in Part 1 of Schedule 4 for the program year and the school’s current SES funding level.

number of relevant primary students, for the school for the program year, means the total number of students (including the fulltime equivalent of parttime students) receiving primary education at a remote school campus of the school on the school campus census day for the school campus in the program year.

 (3) For the purposes of paragraph 98A(2)(c), work out the amount for the school’s primary students for the program year using the formula:

  where:

current SES funding level primary amount, for the school for the program year, means the amount in the table in Part 1 of Schedule 4 for the program year and the school’s current SES funding level.

number of relevant primary students, for the school for the program year, means the total number of students (including the fulltime equivalent of parttime students) receiving primary education at a very remote school campus of the school on the school campus census day for the school campus in the program year.

 (4) If an amount worked out under subsection (1), (2) or (3) is an amount of dollars and cents, the amount is to be rounded to the next higher dollar.

98C  Secondary student amount

 (1) For the purposes of paragraph 98A(3)(a), work out the amount for the school’s secondary students for the program year using the formula:

  where:

current SES funding level secondary amount, for the school for the program year, means the amount in the table in Part 2 of Schedule 4 for the program year and the school’s current SES funding level.

number of relevant secondary students, for the school for the program year, means the total number of students (including the fulltime equivalent of parttime students) receiving secondary education at a moderately accessible school campus of the school on the school campus census day for the school campus in the program year.

 (2) For the purposes of paragraph 98A(3)(b), work out the amount for the school’s secondary students for the program year using the formula:

  where:

current SES funding level secondary amount, for the school for the program year, means the amount in the table in Part 2 of Schedule 4 for the program year and the school’s current SES funding level.

number of relevant secondary students, for the school for the program year, means the total number of students (including the fulltime equivalent of parttime students) receiving secondary education at a remote school campus of the school on the school campus census day for the school campus in the program year.

 (3) For the purposes of paragraph 98A(3)(c), work out the amount for the school’s secondary students for the program year using the formula:

  where:

current SES funding level secondary amount, for the school for the program year, means the amount in the table in Part 2 of Schedule 4 for the program year and the school’s current SES funding level.

number of relevant secondary students, for the school for the program year, means the total number of students (including the fulltime equivalent of parttime students) receiving secondary education at a very remote school campus of the school on the school campus census day for the school campus in the program year.

 (4) If an amount worked out under subsection (1), (2) or (3) is an amount of dollars and cents, the amount is to be rounded to the next higher dollar.

13  Paragraph 132(1)(d)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

 (d) as a result of the statement:

 (i) the school; or

 (ii) a school in the approved school system;

  either:

 (iii) obtains a higher funding level for the purposes of meeting recurrent expenditure than, in the Minister’s opinion, the school may have obtained if the statement had not been made; or

 (iv) obtains a larger amount under Subdivision I of Division 2 of Part 6 than, in the Minister’s opinion, the school may have obtained if the statement had not been made.

14  Schedule 4 (note)

After “93 to 96”, insert “, 98A to 98C”.

15  Application

The amendments made by this Schedule apply to a school for the 2008 program year and later program years.

 

 

 [Minister’s second reading speech made in—

House of Representatives on 23 May 2007

Senate on 12 June 2007]

(86/07)

 

Overview

The Schools Assistance (Learning Together—Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Amendment (2007 Budget Measures) Act 2007 was enacted to amend the Schools Assistance (Learning Together—Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Act 2004 and address specific issues related to funding for schools, particularly concerning remoteness and the education of humanitarian new arrivals. This Act was passed by the Parliament of Australia and received Royal Assent on 28 June 2007. The primary policy objective of the Act is to ensure that schools, especially those in remote and very remote areas, receive adequate funding to meet their educational needs, as well as to provide additional support for students who are humanitarian new arrivals. The Act introduces measures to better account for the unique challenges faced by these schools and students, aiming to improve educational outcomes and opportunities for all. This legislative amendment ensures that schools in remote areas receive additional financial assistance based on their remoteness, and it also introduces an ESL (English as a Second Language) new arrivals humanitarian amount to support schools in providing education to humanitarian new arrivals. These measures are intended to help bridge educational gaps and support the integration of humanitarian new arrivals into the Australian education system.

Scope and Application

The Schools Assistance (Learning Together—Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Amendment (2007 Budget Measures) Act 2007 amends the Schools Assistance (Learning Together—Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Act 2004. This Act applies to the Commonwealth of Australia and its states and territories, specifically targeting non-government schools. The Act primarily modifies the eligibility criteria for receiving additional financial assistance under the original Act, particularly focusing on the inclusion of eligible humanitarian new arrivals and the allocation of funding based on the remoteness of school campuses. The amendments also introduce new definitions and formulas to calculate the additional amounts for these specific categories. The changes take effect from the 2008 program year onwards, and the Act does not explicitly state any exclusions or exemptions. The application of this Act can be extended or further defined through subordinate instruments, such as regulations or determinations by the Minister responsible for education.

Key Provisions

The Schools Assistance (Learning Together—Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Amendment (2007 Budget Measures) Act 2007 amends the Schools Assistance (Learning Together—Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Act 2004. The Act introduces several key changes, including new definitions and formulas related to eligible humanitarian new arrivals and remoteness per capita loading for schools. For instance, the Act defines "eligible humanitarian new arrival" as a person who is an eligible new arrival and holds a visa specified by the Minister (Section 4). It also introduces the concept of "ESL new arrivals humanitarian amount" for program years, detailing amounts in a new Part 3 of Schedule 8 (Section 4). The Act revises formulas and definitions related to the number of eligible humanitarian new arrivals in government and non-government schools, distinguishing them from other eligible new arrivals (Subsections 113(2) and 114(2)). Additionally, it updates the criteria for moderately accessible, remote, and very remote school campuses based on the Remoteness Structure, and establishes new rules for determining different current SES funding levels (Sections 4 and 98A to 98C). The Act imposes several obligations on parties it governs. Schools, particularly those with eligible humanitarian new arrivals, must accurately report the number of such students enrolled in ESL courses. This data is crucial for determining the ESL new arrivals humanitarian amount and ensuring that schools receive appropriate funding. For schools with campuses located in remote or moderately accessible areas, there is an obligation to report campus locations accurately to qualify for the remoteness per capita loading. These obligations ensure that schools receive equitable funding based on their specific circumstances and student needs. The Act does not explicitly outline offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breaches of its provisions. However, it is reasonable to infer that non-compliance with the reporting obligations or inaccurate reporting could lead to financial discrepancies in school funding allocations. Such discrepancies might trigger reviews or audits by the Minister, potentially leading to corrective actions or financial adjustments. While specific penalties are not stated, the Act's emphasis on accurate reporting and funding distribution implies a strong intent to maintain integrity in the allocation of educational resources.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.