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

In relation to the proposed amendment regarding six-monthly reports to parliament, this is also not inconsistent with the government's approach, which has been to increase the data that is publicly available about VET FEE-HELP and vocational education and training to benefit students. This includes requiring VET FEE-HELP providers to publish their maximum fees on the My Skills website and increasing the level of detail available in the annual VET FEE-HELP statistical reports. In light of this, the government believes it is worth examining whether there are further transparency measures that could be incorporated into the new program. That is why, as the member for Adelaide knows, the minister has written to the Chair of the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee, Senator McKenzie, to ask that the committee's inquiry into these bills give consideration to the opposition's amendments as well as alternative models for a VET Student Loans Ombudsman, additional levels of transparency for reporting and any administrative issues related to both the ombudsman and reporting arrangements. The government therefore opposes the amendment.

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