Discount for voluntary payments of HECS being scrapped?

[Jennifer13]

Thanks for flagging, peanutter. I don't think I have any left, but my tax return was just done, so I'll double check when it comes through.

[Liminal]

This seems to be true. You won't get a bonus for paying upfront, or for extra voluntary repayments on your existing debt:

Subject to the passage of legislation, from 1 January 2014, the Australian Government will remove the upfront HECS-HELP discount of 10 per cent for eligible students that pay their student contributions upfront and the voluntary HELP repayment bonus of five per cent.

Changes to the HECS-HELP discount and voluntary repayment bonus - Study Assist

[Liminal]

The previous change was in 2012 and dropped the voluntary repayment bonus from 10% to 5%: Changes to voluntary repayments - Study Assist