Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party, Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I thank all members for their contribution to this debate on the Tertiary Education Quality and Safeguards Agency Amendment (Prohibiting Academic Cheating Services) Bill 2019. It clearly shows that this government is taking a strong stand against cheating services which tarnish the reputation of our higher education sector. The strong penalties in this bill will significantly deter the provision and advertising of academic cheating services. The capacity to block cheating websites will make it harder for students in Australia to access these services. I would like to thank the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights and the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills for its consideration of the bill.

As requested by the committees, I now present an addendum to the explanatory memorandum to explain the compatibility of the civil penalties in the bill with the processes used in the criminal law and reasons for placing the burden of proof on the defendant for particular offences.

I would also like to thank the opposition for their constructive engagement to the bill. Several other amendments to the explanatory memorandum have been made to provide additional clarification on matters they and other stakeholders have raised. These include clarifying that students who publish their old essays will not be subject to prosecution under the bill and that people who inadvertently promote cheating services on social media will also not be affected.

This bill will ensure public confidence in the quality of graduates from our higher education institutions and stop unscrupulous cheating services praying on vulnerable students. Once again, I thank everyone for their engagement. I commend this bill to the House.

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