Bill
VET Student Loans (Charges) Bill 2016
passed, as at 2016-12-07. Education and Training portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Education and Training
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2016-10-13
- second reading — 2016-10-13
- second reading — 2016-10-18
- second reading — 2016-10-19
- second reading — 2016-10-19
- third reading — 2016-10-19
- introduced — 2016-11-07
- second reading — 2016-11-07
- second reading — 2016-11-09
- second reading — 2016-11-24
- second reading — 2016-11-30
- second reading — 2016-11-30
- committee — 2016-11-30
- third reading — 2016-11-30
- passed — 2016-11-30
- royal assent — 2016-12-07
Divisions
- Sarah Hanson-Young In respect of the VET Student Loans (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2016, I move the Australian Greens amendment (1) on sheet 7971: (1) Schedule 1, page 8 (after line 16), after item 20, insert: 20A After subclause 46A(1) of Schedule 1A Insert: (1A) The \*Secretary must also re-credit a person's \*FEE-HELP balance with an amount equal to the amounts of \*VET FEE-HELP assistance that the person received for a \*VET unit of study if, as a result of information provided to the Secretary without the person applying for the re-credit, the Secretary is satisfied of the matters in subclause (1) (other than paragraphs (1) (d) to (f)). (1B) Before making a decision under subclause (1A), the \*Secretary must give the person and the \*VET provider a notice in writing in accordance with subclause (3). (1C) In deciding whether to make the decision under subclause (1A), the \*Secretary must consider any submission received from the person, and from the \*VET provider, within the 28 day period given for the person and the VET provider to provide submissions. (1D) The \*Secretary must give written notice of a decision under subclause (1A) to the person and the \*VET provider. The notice must be given within 28 days after the day the decision was made. There are a number of amendments that have been circulated. I have circulated an amendment that goes directly to the heart of this issue. We know that the system we are reforming with this bill is one that has been rorted, abused and exploited by those who have wished to make a lot of money and a private buck off the goodwill of vulnerable students and the willingness of this place, the parliament, to offer support to students who desperately want to get qualifications. I said right at the outset of my speech in the second reading debate that a number of the Australian Greens, along with a number of other voices, warned at the time that if this sector was to be so deregulated people would — 2016-11-30, Senate: affirmative, ayes 32, noes 30
- Simon Birmingham by leave—I move government amendments (1) to (25) on sheet GX140 together: (1) Clause 6, page 4 (before line 3), before the definition of _approved course provider_, insert: _approved course_: see section 13. (2) Clause 6, page 4 (after line 3), after the definition of _approved course provider_, insert: _approved external dispute resolution scheme_: see section 42B. _approved external dispute resolution scheme operator_: see paragraph 42B(c). (3) Clause 6, page 6 (after line 12), after the definition of _officer of an approved course provider_, insert: _officer of an approved external dispute resolution scheme operator_ means: (a) an officer or employee of an approved external dispute resolution scheme operator; or (b) a person who performs services for or on behalf of an approved external dispute resolution scheme operator. (4) Clause 6, page 6 (after line 14), after the definition of _officer of a Tertiary Admission Centre_, insert: _officer of a tuition assurance scheme operator_ means: (a) an officer or employee of a tuition assurance scheme operator; or (b) a person who performs services for or on behalf of a tuition assurance scheme operator. (5) Clause 6, page 8 (line 8), at the end of the definition of _VET officer_, add: ; (e) an officer of an approved external dispute resolution scheme operator. (6) Clause 15, page 12 (line 26), omit "accredited", substitute "registered". (7) Clause 17, page 14 (line 22), omit "request the student to". (8) Clause 17, page 14 (line 23), before "provide", insert "request the student to". (9) Clause 17, page 14 (line 25), omit "may". (10) Clause 25, page 21 (line 19), at the end of subclause (2), add: ; and (h) be a member of an approved external dispute resolution scheme. (11) Clause 25, page 21 (lines 20 to 22), omit all the words from and including "the" to the end of subclause (3), substitute: either or both of the following: (a) the requirement in paragraph (2) (g) to be a party to an approved tuition a — 2016-11-30, Senate: negative, ayes 4, noes 50
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2016-10-13.
This bill would impose a charge on approved vocational education and training course providers to help fund the student loan program.
The charge would be set by regulations, with the amount varying by provider size to reflect lower compliance costs for smaller providers.
A fee schedule consistent with government cost recovery guidelines would be determined before the regulations are introduced.
- Imposes a charge on approved course providers as a tax.
- Funds the VET student loan program, including administration, data collection, and compliance activities.
- Sets the charge amount by regulation, with different amounts for different provider sizes.
Approved course providers under the VET Student Loans Bill.
Sources
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