Senator PAYNE (New South Wales—Minister for Human Services) (14:36): I thank Senator Carr for the question and for continuing the very constructive conversation we had over these matters during the estimates period. He is, as you know, always so very constructive in the estimates environment and this occasion was no different. I am sure my colleagues and Senator Back, who was chairing the committee, will agree with me on that matter. As we discussed extensively at estimates, the government's policies in relation to the changing of arrangements around higher education are designed to do a number of things; most importantly though, they are designed to ensure that Australia will be internationally competitive in the higher education space. The policies are designed to ensure that support in areas such as those to which Senator Carr has referred through a number of mechanisms, including the sub-bachelor degree funding expansion and including support for institutions that provide those sorts of qualifications, is directed at students who may come from areas in Australia where it is not always easy to win or achieve on your first effort in a bachelor degree—exactly the sorts of students that Senator Carr was talking about. It is about spreading opportunity across Australia for students; it is about making sure that there are many more opportunities. And I think I have said in the chamber before— Senator Moore: Mr President, I rise on a point of order: relevance. It was a very specific question about whether any vice-chancellor of a regional university supports the government's policy. I have now given quite a long time to have that question answered but we have not had that answer. Could I ask you to draw the minister's attention to the specific question. The PRESIDENT: Order! I cannot tell the minister how to answer the question. I have said this on numerous occasions and it is the same on this occasion. The minister has 36 seconds to remaining to address the question that was asked by Senator Carr. Senator PAYNE: I can, to assist those opposite, read a small contribution from a media release of May from the regional universities network which says: The Regional Universities Network (RUN) welcomes the announcement in the budget of an ambitious program of reform for higher education which recognises the importance of the sector to Australia. The Treasurer and the minister are to be congratulated for highlighting the important role universities play in Australia's future.