Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

I thank all senators who've contributed to the debate on this important bill, the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment (Strengthening Quality and Integrity in Vocational Education and Training No. 1) Bill 2024. I welcome the opposition's support for the bill and for the Albanese government's work to strengthen integrity and quality in vocational education and training.

The measures in this bill will provide the regulator, the Australian Skills Quality Authority, better tools to protect students and tackle the minority of providers that are non-genuine or that engage in unscrupulous conduct. Non-genuine and unscrupulous providers tarnish the reputation of the sector, and the bill reinforces that there is no place for them in VET.

The minor amendments proposed by the opposition restate the existing operation or are consistent with the operation of the measures as described in the explanatory memorandum. As a result, the government will accept the amendments proposed. The amendments relate to the measures empowering the minister, with the agreement of the state and territory skills ministers, to determine the time limited periods ASQA is not required to, or must not, process or accept initial applications for registration as a registered training organisation. The proposed amendments clarify to the sector that any ministerial determination under this measure will operate for a maximum of 12 months.

In the other place, the opposition had originally proposed a 90-day maximum for any determination under this measure. This period would not adequately address potential risks to the students and the health of the VET sector. The opposition has now changed course to propose a 12-month maximum, which is consistent with the maximum period intended by the government. The amendments also detail that ASQA will publish a notice on its website as soon as practicable after the determination is registered, as was intended, and note the existing requirement for relevant instruments and their explanatory statements to be tabled in parliament in accordance with the Legislation Act 2003.

Apart from these minor amendments, other measures in the bill to tackle non-genuine and unscrupulous providers remain unchanged. These include the automatic lapsing of an RTO's registration when it has been dormant for 12 months, the requirement for new RTOs to demonstrate quality over two years before extending their course offerings and a fivefold increase in penalties when RTOs engage in egregious conduct in breach of the act.

The bill provides us with better powers to remove non-genuine and scrupulous providers who undermine integrity and trust in VET. As a result, the legislation will better support and protect students, industry and the vast majority of RTOs—those genuine providers doing the right thing.

Once again, I thank senators for their engagement on this bill, and I commend the bill to the Senate.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.