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Bill
- Part 1—Introduction
- Part 2—Basic principles for regulation
- Part 3—Registration
- Part 4—Accreditation of courses of study
- Part 5—Higher Education Standards Framework
- Part 6—Investigative powers
- Part 7—Enforcement
- Part 8—Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency
- Part 9—Higher Education Standards Panel
- Part 10—Administrative law matters
- Part 11—National Register of Higher Education Providers
- Part 12—Miscellaneous
The Parliament of the
Commonwealth of Australia
THE SENATE
As passed by both Houses
Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Bill 2011
No. , 2011
A Bill for an Act to regulate higher education, and for other purposes
Contents
Division 1—Preliminary 1
1............ Short title............................................................................................. 1
2............ Commencement................................................................................... 2
Division 2—Objects and simplified outline 4
3............ Objects................................................................................................ 4
4............ Simplified outline................................................................................ 4
Division 3—Definitions 6
5............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 6
6............ Meaning of regulated higher education award ................................. 15
7............ Meaning of vacancy .......................................................................... 16
Division 4—Constitutional matters 17
8............ Constitutional basis........................................................................... 17
9............ Act excludes State and Territory higher education laws.................... 17
Division 5—General application of this Act 18
10.......... Crown to be bound........................................................................... 18
11.......... Application to external Territories and outside Australia................... 18
12.......... Geographical jurisdiction of offences................................................ 18
Part 2—Basic principles for regulation 19
13.......... Basic principles for regulation........................................................... 19
14.......... Principle of regulatory necessity....................................................... 19
15.......... Principle of reflecting risk................................................................. 19
16.......... Principle of proportionate regulation................................................. 19
17.......... Application to authorised officers..................................................... 20
Part 3—Registration 21
Division 1—Applying for registration 21
18.......... Applying for registration................................................................... 21
19.......... Preliminary assessment of application............................................... 21
20.......... Substantive assessment of application............................................... 22
21.......... Registration....................................................................................... 22
22.......... TEQSA to notify applicant of decision about registration................. 24
23.......... Commencement and duration of registration..................................... 24
Division 2—Conditions of registration 25
24.......... Complying with conditions............................................................... 25
25.......... Condition—accredited course........................................................... 25
26.......... Condition—courses to be provided consistently with the Threshold Standards 25
27.......... Condition—financial information must be provided......................... 25
28.......... Condition—other information must be provided............................... 26
29.......... Condition—notifying TEQSA of material changes........................... 26
30.......... Condition—record keeping............................................................... 27
31.......... Condition—cooperation.................................................................... 27
32.......... Other conditions................................................................................ 27
33.......... Conditions about authority to self-accredit........................................ 28
34.......... TEQSA to notify provider of decision to impose, vary or revoke a condition 29
Division 3—Renewing registration 30
35.......... Applying to renew registration.......................................................... 30
36.......... Renewing registration....................................................................... 30
37.......... TEQSA to notify provider of decision about renewal....................... 31
Division 4—Changing provider registration category 32
38.......... Changing provider registration category........................................... 32
39.......... Consultation—change relates to use of “university”......................... 32
40.......... TEQSA to notify provider of decision.............................................. 33
Division 5—Applying to self-accredit 34
41.......... Applying to self-accredit courses of study........................................ 34
42.......... TEQSA to notify provider of decision.............................................. 34
Division 6—Withdrawing registration 35
43.......... Withdrawing registration................................................................... 35
44.......... TEQSA to notify provider of decision about withdrawal.................. 35
Part 4—Accreditation of courses of study 36
Division 1—Accrediting courses of study 36
45.......... Who can accredit courses of study.................................................... 36
Division 2—Applying for accreditation 37
46.......... Applying for accreditation................................................................. 37
47.......... Preliminary assessment of application............................................... 37
48.......... Substantive assessment of application............................................... 37
49.......... Accreditation of course of study....................................................... 38
50.......... TEQSA to notify provider of decision about accreditation................ 39
51.......... Commencement and duration of accreditation................................... 39
Division 3—Conditions of accreditation 41
52.......... Complying with conditions............................................................... 41
53.......... Conditions......................................................................................... 41
54.......... TEQSA to notify provider of decision to impose, vary or revoke a condition 41
Division 4—Renewing accreditation 42
55.......... Applying to renew accreditation........................................................ 42
56.......... Renewing accreditation..................................................................... 42
57.......... TEQSA to notify provider of decision about renewal....................... 43
Part 5—Higher Education Standards Framework 44
Division 1—Higher Education Standards Framework 44
58.......... Making the Higher Education Standards Framework....................... 44
Division 2—Compliance with the Framework 46
59.......... Compliance assessments................................................................... 46
60.......... Quality (including thematic) assessments.......................................... 46
61.......... Accreditation assessments................................................................. 46
62.......... Matters relevant to assessments........................................................ 46
Part 6—Investigative powers 48
Division 1—Requiring people to give information etc. 48
63.......... Requiring person connected with a regulated entity to give information etc. 48
64.......... Contravening requirement to give information etc............................. 49
65.......... Copying documents—compensation................................................. 49
66.......... TEQSA may retain documents and things........................................ 49
67.......... Returning documents or things produced.......................................... 50
68.......... Disposal if cannot be returned........................................................... 50
69.......... Self-incrimination.............................................................................. 51
Division 2—Searches of premises 52
70.......... Authorised officer may enter premises by consent or under a warrant 52
71.......... Monitoring powers of authorised officers......................................... 52
72.......... Enforcement powers of authorised officers....................................... 55
73.......... Persons assisting authorised officers................................................ 57
74.......... Use of force in executing a warrant................................................... 57
75.......... Authorised officer may ask questions and seek production of documents 58
76.......... Self-incrimination.............................................................................. 59
Division 3—Obligations and incidental powers of authorised officers 60
77.......... Consent............................................................................................. 60
78.......... Announcement before entry under warrant....................................... 60
79.......... Authorised officer to be in possession of warrant............................. 61
80.......... Details of warrant etc. to be given to occupier................................... 61
81.......... Expert assistance to operate electronic equipment............................. 62
82.......... Compensation for damage to electronic equipment........................... 63
Division 4—Occupier’s rights and responsibilities 65
83.......... Occupier entitled to observe execution of warrant............................. 65
84.......... Occupier to provide authorised officer with facilities and assistance. 65
Division 5—General provisions relating to seizure 66
85.......... Copies of seized things to be provided.............................................. 66
86.......... Receipts for things seized.................................................................. 66
87.......... Return of seized things...................................................................... 66
88.......... Magistrate may permit a thing to be retained..................................... 67
89.......... Disposal if cannot be returned........................................................... 68
Division 6—Warrants 70
90.......... Issuing monitoring warrants............................................................. 70
91.......... Issuing enforcement warrants........................................................... 71
92.......... Enforcement warrants by telephone, fax etc...................................... 72
93.......... Offence relating to warrants by telephone, fax etc............................. 74
Division 7—Authorised officers and identity cards 75
94.......... Authorised officers........................................................................... 75
95.......... Identity cards..................................................................................... 75
Division 8—Powers of magistrates 77
96.......... Federal Magistrates—consent to nomination.................................... 77
97.......... Magistrates—personal capacity......................................................... 77
Part 7—Enforcement 78
Division 1—Administrative sanctions 78
Subdivision A—Sanctions 78
98.......... Provider is non-compliant................................................................. 78
99.......... Sanctions about accredited course..................................................... 78
100........ Shortening period of registration....................................................... 78
101........ Cancelling registration....................................................................... 78
Subdivision B—Other matters 79
102........ Automatic cancellation if provider wound up.................................... 79
103........ Seeking registration after cancellation............................................... 79
Division 2—Offences and civil penalty provisions 80
Subdivision A—Offences and civil penalty provisions 80
104........ Guide to offences and civil penalty provisions.................................. 80
105........ Offering a regulated higher education award if unregistered............. 80
106........ Representing offer of a regulated higher education award if unregistered 81
107........ Offering an award without a course of study.................................... 82
108........ Regulated entity represents itself as university.................................. 82
109........ Falsely representing entity as a registered higher education provider 84
110........ Falsely representing that entity provides a course of study leading to a regulated higher education award 84
111........ Falsely representing course of study is accredited............................. 85
112........ Providing an unaccredited course of study........................................ 85
113........ Breach of condition of registration.................................................... 86
114........ Breach of condition of accreditation.................................................. 86
Subdivision B—Obtaining a civil penalty order 86
115........ Civil penalty orders........................................................................... 86
116........ Involvement in contravening civil penalty provision......................... 87
117........ Recovery of a pecuniary penalty....................................................... 88
118........ 2 or more proceedings may be heard together................................... 88
119........ Continuing and multiple contraventions of civil penalty provisions.. 88
120........ Mistake of fact.................................................................................. 89
Subdivision C—Civil penalty proceedings and criminal proceedings 90
121........ Civil proceedings after criminal proceedings..................................... 90
122........ Criminal proceedings during civil proceedings................................. 90
123........ Criminal proceedings after civil proceedings..................................... 90
124........ Evidence given in proceedings for civil penalty not admissible in criminal proceedings 90
Division 3—Enforceable undertakings 92
125........ Acceptance of undertakings.............................................................. 92
126........ Enforcement of undertakings............................................................ 92
Division 4—Injunctions 94
127........ Injunctions........................................................................................ 94
128........ Interim injunctions............................................................................ 94
129........ Discharging or varying injunctions................................................... 95
130........ Certain limits on granting injunctions not to apply............................ 95
131........ Other powers of the Court unaffected............................................... 95
Part 8—Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency 97
Division 1—Establishment, functions and powers of TEQSA 97
132........ Establishment.................................................................................... 97
133........ Constitution....................................................................................... 97
134........ Functions and powers....................................................................... 97
135........ Independence of TEQSA.................................................................. 99
136........ Minister may give directions to TEQSA........................................... 99
137........ TEQSA has privileges and immunities of the Crown....................... 99
Division 2—Appointment of Commissioners 100
138........ Appointment................................................................................... 100
139........ Term of appointment....................................................................... 100
140........ Remuneration and allowances......................................................... 100
141........ Leave of absence............................................................................. 101
142........ Outside employment....................................................................... 101
143........ Disclosure of interests to the Minister............................................. 101
144........ Other terms and conditions............................................................. 101
145........ Resignation..................................................................................... 102
146........ Termination of appointment............................................................ 102
147........ Acting appointments....................................................................... 103
Division 3—TEQSA procedures 105
Subdivision A—Meetings 105
148........ Times and places of meetings.......................................................... 105
149........ Conduct of meetings....................................................................... 105
150........ Disclosure of interests..................................................................... 106
Subdivision B—Decisions without meetings 106
151........ Decisions without meetings............................................................ 106
152........ Record of decisions......................................................................... 107
Division 4—Chief Executive Officer 108
153........ Chief Executive Officer................................................................... 108
154........ Functions and powers of the Chief Executive Officer..................... 108
155........ Minister may give directions to Chief Executive Officer................. 108
Division 5—Staff 109
156........ Staff................................................................................................ 109
157........ Staff to be made available to TEQSA.............................................. 109
Division 6—Fees 110
158........ Fees................................................................................................. 110
Division 7—Planning 111
Subdivision A—Strategic plans 111
159........ Developing strategic plans.............................................................. 111
160........ Approving strategic plans............................................................... 111
161........ Varying strategic plans.................................................................... 112
Subdivision B—Annual operational plans 112
162........ Developing annual operational plans............................................... 112
163........ Approving annual operational plans................................................ 113
164........ Varying annual operational plans.................................................... 113
Division 8—Annual reports 114
165........ Annual reports................................................................................ 114
Part 9—Higher Education Standards Panel 115
Division 1—Establishment and functions 115
166........ Establishment.................................................................................. 115
167........ Constitution..................................................................................... 115
168........ Functions........................................................................................ 115
169........ Panel has privileges and immunities of the Crown.......................... 116
Division 2—Appointment of Panel members 117
170........ Appointment................................................................................... 117
171........ Term of appointment....................................................................... 117
172........ Remuneration and allowances......................................................... 117
173........ Leave of absence............................................................................. 118
174........ Outside employment....................................................................... 118
175........ Disclosure of interests to the Minister............................................. 118
176........ Other terms and conditions............................................................. 118
177........ Resignation..................................................................................... 118
178........ Termination of appointment............................................................ 119
179........ Acting appointments....................................................................... 119
Division 3—Panel meetings 121
180........ Holding meetings............................................................................ 121
181........ Quorum........................................................................................... 121
182........ Procedure of meetings..................................................................... 121
Part 10—Administrative law matters 123
Division 1—Review of decisions 123
183........ Reviewable decisions...................................................................... 123
184........ Applying for internal review of reviewable decisions made by delegates of TEQSA 124
185........ Internal review by TEQSA............................................................. 124
186........ Deadline for internal review............................................................ 125
187........ Review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal............................. 125
Division 2—Information management 126
Subdivision A—Restriction on disclosure or use of information 126
188........ Offence of unauthorised disclosure or use of information.............. 126
Subdivision B—Information sharing 127
189........ Disclosing information about breaches of regulatory requirements. 127
190........ Disclosing information about proposed cancellations of registration 128
191........ Disclosing information to Tertiary Admission Centres................... 128
192........ Disclosing information to the Minister and Secretary..................... 128
193........ Disclosing information to professional bodies etc........................... 129
194........ Disclosing information to certain government bodies etc................ 129
195........ Disclosing information under international cooperative arrangements 129
196........ Disclosing information to the public............................................... 129
197........ Information about national security................................................. 130
Part 11—National Register of Higher Education Providers 131
198........ National Register of Higher Education Providers........................... 131
Part 12—Miscellaneous 132
199........ Delegation—general........................................................................ 132
200........ Delegation—powers delegable only to Commissioners.................. 133
201........ Delegates must comply with directions........................................... 133
202........ Protection from criminal or civil actions.......................................... 134
203........ Review of impact of Act................................................................. 134
204........ Guidelines....................................................................................... 134
205........ Regulations..................................................................................... 135
A Bill for an Act to regulate higher education, and for other purposes
The Parliament of Australia enacts: