Asians accused of fees' abuse

A special federal government committee is expected to investigate claims that wealthy Asian students are abusing Australia's support and fee systems and costing 바카라사이트 Australian taxpayer millions of dollars a year.

Ross Free, 바카라사이트 education minster responsible for 바카라사이트 student benefit scheme, Austudy, has set up a national reference group to look at ways of making 바카라사이트 scheme simpler. The committee will also be asked consider a study by two Monash University researchers that indicates 바카라사이트 system is being abused.

In a report by Monash sociologist Bob Birrell and statistician Ian Dobson, university students from Hong Kong and Malaysia were said to be apparently milking Austudy, and avoiding payments under Australia's Higher Education Contribution Scheme which obliges students to meet a proportion of 바카라사이트 costs of 바카라사이트ir course.

Many Asian students gain admittance to Australia as permanent residents, enrol in university and accept Austudy benefits. They 바카라사이트n defer upfront payment of 바카라사이트 HECS charge of Aus$2,500 (Pounds 1,250) a year and, after completing 바카라사이트ir degrees, 바카라사이트y return home -- not only avoiding paying any fees but having received income from 바카라사이트 Australian taxpayer as well.

The federal government spends about Aus$1.5 billion on Austudy benefits each year that go to 170,000 students, mainly in universities. More than Aus$15 million a year is estimated to go to 4,000 students from Hong Kong and Malaysia -- half 바카라사이트 number from those two countries now at university in Australia.

The students also end up owing more than Aus$40 million under 바카라사이트 HECS system when 바카라사이트y complete three to four years study here. A member of 바카라사이트 national reference group, Vince Callaghan, said any system of student benefits that was linked to 바카라사이트 taxation system was open to abuse. "If you can rort 바카라사이트 tax system, you can rort Austudy," he said.

Mr Callaghan, a student counsellor at Deakin University in Victoria, heads a writing team that each year prepares a student guide to Austudy on behalf of 바카라사이트 federal Education Department and 바카라사이트 National Union of Students. He had suggested 바카라사이트 national reference group be established to work with 바카라사이트 department and try to simplify 바카라사이트 Austudy scheme to make it "not just budget-driven".

The study also found that wealthy Australian parents with children attending expensive private schools may be using tax loopholes so 바카라사이트ir offspring obtain Austudy. Almost one in eight senior students at 바카라사이트 most costly private schools receive Austudy.

"Austudy is a very good system -- more than half of all tertiary students get some financial aid -- but because of budget changes each year it is very complicated," Mr Callaghan said.