Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move:

That the provisions of paragraphs 5 to 8 of standing order 111 not apply to the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment Bill 2015, allowing it to be considered during this period of sittings.

I also table the statement of reasons justifying the need for this bill to be considered during these sittings and seek leave to have the statement incorporated in Hansard .

Leave granted.

The statement read as follows—

Purpose of the Bill

This bill will implement measures to protect the integrity of the vocational education and training (VET) system. It will also make amendments to improve the efficiency and operation of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator and to provide better balance between protection and regulation of the VET system.

Reasons for Urgency

Any delay in the passage of this bill will increase the vulnerability of the VET system to rogue operators who are undermining the system by engaging in behaviours that deliberately manipulate the VET system for financial gain. The reputation of both the system and of organisations operating ethically is also being compromised by the actions of rogue operators.

Delays in the passage of the bill will continue to put at risk students and employers. Targeted students will continue to be enrolled in courses for which they are not suitable and may not understand the financial implications of that decision. More broadly, a weakening of the integrity of the system reduces employers' confidence in the suitability and skill level of employees.