The submission supports collecting HECS debt from deceased estates and a new HECS household income test. However, it has rejected calls for a new tier of “flagship courses” that would allow universities to set their own fees.

Federation University is part of RUN, which also includes Central Queensland University, the University of Southern Queenland, Southern Cross University, the University of New England and the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Federation University vice-chancellor Professor David Battersby said they had endorsed the submission, and the views expressed by RUN executive director Caroline Perkins.

It was released in response to a federal government call for submissions on Australia’s higher education future.

Ms Perkins said it was “reasonable” for HECS debts to be recovered from deceased estates. “Most other debt is not forgiven when someone dies,” she said.

She also said it was sensible to judge HECS payments on family incomes as some graduates earning below the repayment threshold had partners on very high wages.

However, the RUN submission said flagship courses would not work in regional universities.

“Such a scheme may be viable for a few, high demand courses, particularly in elite universities,” the submission said. 

“However, in an environment where there is a significant reduction in Commonwealth Grant Scheme funding, and no other source of funding to replace this, regional universities would not be able to recoup significant funds via flagships.”

RUN also urged the government to be cautious on plans to reduce the HECS repayment threshold from about $54,000 annually to $40,000-$45,000.

“Many students at RUN-universities are mature-aged and part-time, and care needs to be taken that the threshold isn’t so low that it is triggered while students are studying.”