Karen Andrews (McPherson, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the opposition for proposing the amendments. I understand the opposition spokesperson, the member for Adelaide, discussed these with the Minister for Education and Training before they were circulated.

As I noted in my second reading speech on this bill, the government intends to establish an ombudsman. This will increase student protections and provide a further avenue for dispute resolution. I note that Labor never provided an ombudsman when it established or expanded the VET FEE-HELP scheme. Stakeholders have raised a number of different models for an ombudsman, which the government is currently considering. So, whilst it supports the principle of an ombudsman, it will not support the opposition's amendment.

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