Nuclear Powered Submarine Program Enrolments

Question

Senator FARUQI: I have a couple of questions on the nuclear powered submarine program. In the October estimates last year, I asked on notice: How many students have enrolled in the Nuclear Powered Submarine Program pathway to date? The answer was: 'The department cannot determine how many students have enrolled in the Nuclear Powered Submarine Program pathway to date until student data has been received and verified in the Tertiary Collection of Student Information system and standard reconciliation procedures have been undertaken. This is expected to be completed by early 2026.' It is now mid-2026. How many students have enrolled in the nuclear powered submarine program pathway to date? Ms Mohr: We haven't finished the reconciliation yet, so I'm not in a position to be able to answer that question at this time. Senator FARUQI: Why not? Ms Mohr: We're still working through the numbers. We just haven't- Senator FARUQI: I'm asking why. Ms Mohr: The ability to work, a capacity-we're still working through it. Senator FARUQI: The department doesn't have the resources or the capacity to do a simple calculation for a program which is costing $128.5 million over five years to support 4,000 commencing Commonwealth students. When will you have an answer to that? Ms Mohr: We're hoping in the next few months. What I would say is that, as you know, reconciliation of student numbers is done in arrears. That process usually lags by about 12 to 18 months. That's the reason for the delay. That's about standard in terms of- Senator FARUQI: I know that, but you said expected completion in early 2026. That was the answer I was given. Ms Mohr: We're still working through it. The other complication in this is that we can only calculate the use of these places once we have finished that reconciliation process. That is the process that we are now undertaking. It's just not finalised yet. Senator FARUQI: Could you take on notice and please give me that number as soon as it is available. Ms Mohr: As soon as it's available, yes. Senator FARUQI: Thank you.

Answer

Please see the attached PDF.

Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• SQ26-000737.pdf (opens in a new tab)