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Higher Education Support Amendment (Streamlining and Other Measures) Bill 2012

Introduced into the House of Representatives on 19 September 2012
Portfolio: Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education
Response received: 28 October 2012

Committee view

1.2        The committee thanks the Minister for his response. Having considered this further information in conjunction with the statement of compatibility, the committee is satisfied that the bill does not appear to give rise to any human rights concerns.

Purpose of the bill

1.3        This bill is intended to strengthen the integrity and quality framework underpinning the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) schemes, improve information sharing and transparency with the national education regulators, improve arrangements for the early identification of low quality providers, and enable the government to better manage risk to students and public monies. The amendments give effect to the government’s commitments under the 2012 COAG National Partnership Agreement on Skills Reform.

1.4        Schedule 2 of the bill provides that a notice revoking a higher education or vocational education training (VET) provider takes effect on the day the notice is registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments. The statement of compatibility explains that the purpose of the amendments is:

to ensure that notices of revocation take effect in a more timely and effective manner to prevent an organisation whose approval has been revoked, from continuing to offer FEE-HELP or VET FEE-HELP to students during the period between the Minister’s decision to revoke a provider’s approval and the time when the notice of revocation of approval takes effect. This will minimise risks to students.’

1.5        The Minister's response can be found in Appendix 1.

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