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senate vote 2015-12-02#2
Edited by
mackay staff
on
2015-12-17 19:18:17
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Title
Bills — Higher Education Support Amendment (Vet Fee-Help Reform) Bill 2015; in Committee- Higher Education Support Amendment (Vet Fee-Help Reform) Bill 2015 - in Committee - Control prices
Description
<p class="speaker">Kim Carr</p><p>Before we move to the vote on the government's main amendments, given the second reading amendment to this bill has been carried and we have an international Ombudsman operating for overseas students, what is the government's intention of applying the principle of the international Ombudsman to domestic VET students?</p> <p class="speaker">Simon Birmingham</p>- An equal number of senators voted for and against an [amendment](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-12-02.54.1) introduced by Labor Senator [Kim Carr](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/kim_carr), which means it didn't pass.
- Senator Carr explains the amendment:
- > *Labor are proposing one simple proposition here, and the intent of the amendment is simple: it gives the minister an additional tool to control the rorts in the VET sector. It allows the minister, through a delegated responsibility to the secretary of the department, to control prices, as we do within the universities. The minister could seek to fix the costs of all courses or only some courses.*
- Read his full explanation, which is in two parts: [part one](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-12-02.54.1) and [part two](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-12-02.54.66).
- ### What does the bill do?
- The bill introduces a new compliance regime for the [Vocational Education and Training](http://www.australia.gov.au/information-and-services/education-and-training/vocational-education-and-training) (**VET**) sector. It also introduces new measures such as requiring students under 18 years old to get their parent's approval before getting a [VET FEE-HELP](http://studyassist.gov.au/sites/studyassist/helppayingmyfees/vet-fee-help/pages/vet-fee-help) loan.
- To read more about the bill see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd060).
<p>Consistent with discussions that I think our officers have had, Senator Carr, I am happy to give the government's undertaking to progress a model that could see application of an ombudsman. My understanding is that it may require some further referral of powers from the states, if they were to apply in a manner consistent with the international Ombudsman. There may be scope for some narrower application that just deals with VET FEE-HELP-type matters, which could be an alternative.</p><p>In light of the constructiveness with which we have dealt with some of the issues at least, the government did not oppose your second reading amendment and is willing to work through those issues.</p> <p class="speaker">Kim Carr</p><p>I would remind you that the constructiveness extended right through this conversation. It may well be that we will have a difference of opinion which we have not abrogated our responsibilities to express, particularly on something as significant as these matters.</p><p>It would be incorrect for you to suggest that the opposition has not been constructive in these questions. These are matters of deep concern, involving expenditure of $3 billion. I just indicate and repeat that the opposition will be voting in favour of the government's amendments, despite our reservations about the speed with which they have been put together; despite our concerns as to whether or not they will do the job that the government intends them to do. Nonetheless, as I think was put to me yesterday, these amendments are a step in the right direction. I think, however, there may well be a broader application required—I trust I am wrong on this, but my expectation that it will soon become apparent that the private colleges will find ways around these measures. I have no doubt that there will be substantial concerns expressed by some private colleges about the way in which these measures are being brought forward without consultation. There may be well be others that claim that there have been injustices imposed on them and, obviously, the appeal mechanisms, which have been outlined, will mean for many people there will not be an opportunity to appeal them. There are no appeal mechanisms, as far as I can see, for students, and the problem within the scheme is that the Commonwealth's approach is to give priority to company operations rather than the welfare of students. With those reservations, we will indicate our support for these amendments.</p> <p class="speaker">Glenn Lazarus</p><p>I move amendment (2) on sheet 7835:</p><p class="italic">(2) Amendment (16), item 20A, omit the item, substitute:</p><p class="italic">20A Clause 91 of Schedule 1A (after table item 1B)</p><p class="italic">Insert:</p><p>Question agreed to.</p><p>The CHAIRMAN: Amendments (13) and (16) have been amended. So the question is that the government amendments as amended and the request No. 14 on sheet GZ155 be agreed to.</p><p>Question agreed to.</p> <p class='motion-notice motion-notice-truncated'>Long debate text truncated.</p>
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