2010

 

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

 

THE SENATE

 

 

 

 

Presented and read a first time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Bill 2010

 

No.      , 2010

 

(Education, Employment and Workplace Relations)

 

 

 

A Bill for an Act to establish the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator, and for related purposes

   

   

   

Contents

Part 1—Introduction                                                                                                             1

Division 1—Preliminary                                                                                              1

1............ Short title............................................................................................. 1

2............ Commencement................................................................................... 2

Division 2—Definitions                                                                                                 3

3............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 3

Division 3—Constitutional basis for this Act and the Transitional Act 11

4............ Constitutional basis for this Act and the Transitional Act................. 11

5............ Meaning of referring State ................................................................ 12

6............ Meaning of referred VET matters ..................................................... 15

7............ Meaning of non-referring State ........................................................ 16

8............ When application of this Act takes effect.......................................... 17

9............ Immunity from State and Territory laws........................................... 18

10.......... When this Act does not apply—exclusion by a law of a referring State or a Territory             19

11.......... Addressing inconsistency between Commonwealth and State and Territory laws   20

Division 4—General application of this Act and the Transitional Act 21

12.......... Acts bind the Crown......................................................................... 21

13.......... Acts not to apply so as to exceed Commonwealth power................. 21

14.......... Extension of Acts to external Territories........................................... 22

15.......... Extra-territorial application................................................................ 22

Part 2—Registration                                                                                                            23

Division 1—Registering as an NVR registered training organisation 23

Subdivision A—Applying for registration                                                          23

16.......... Application for registration............................................................... 23

17.......... Registration....................................................................................... 23

18.......... National VET Regulator to notify applicant of decision on registration 24

19.......... National VET Regulator to issue certificate of registration................ 25

20.......... Commencement and duration of registration..................................... 25

Subdivision B—Conditions of registration                                                         26

21.......... Complying with conditions............................................................... 26

22.......... Condition—compliance with the VET Quality Framework.............. 26

23.......... Condition—satisfying Fit and Proper Person Requirements............. 26

24.......... Condition—satisfying the Financial Viability Risk Assessment Requirements        26

25.......... Condition—notifying National VET Regulator of material changes. 26

26.......... Condition—other information must be provided............................... 27

27.......... Condition—cooperation.................................................................... 27

28.......... Condition—compliance with directions given by the National VET Regulator        27

29.......... Other conditions................................................................................ 28

30.......... National VET Regulator to notify NVR registered training organisation of change in conditions of registration     28

Subdivision C—Renewing registration                                                                28

31.......... Renewal of registration..................................................................... 28

Division 2—Changing the scope of registration                                            30

32.......... Application for change of scope of registration................................. 30

33.......... Change of scope of registration......................................................... 30

34.......... National VET Regulator to notify applicant of decision on change of scope of registration     31

Division 3—Ensuring compliance with the VET Quality Framework    32

Subdivision A—Audits                                                                                             32

35.......... Audits............................................................................................... 32

Subdivision B—Administrative sanctions                                                           32

36.......... Sanctions........................................................................................... 32

37.......... Natural justice requirements.............................................................. 33

38.......... Suspension........................................................................................ 34

39.......... Cancellation....................................................................................... 34

40.......... Other enforcement action.................................................................. 35

Division 4—Requests for reassessment                                                             36

41.......... Requests for reassessment................................................................ 36

Division 5—Withdrawing registration                                                               37

42.......... Withdrawing registration................................................................... 37

Part 3—Accreditation of courses                                                                                 38

Division 1—Applying for accreditation                                                             38

43.......... Application for accreditation............................................................. 38

44.......... Accreditation of course..................................................................... 38

45.......... National VET Regulator to notify applicant of decision on accreditation of course  39

46.......... Commencement and duration of accreditation................................... 39

Division 2—Conditions of accreditation                                                            40

47.......... Complying with conditions............................................................... 40

48.......... Conditions......................................................................................... 40

49.......... National VET Regulator to notify relevant person of change in conditions of accreditation     40

Division 3—Renewing accreditation                                                                   41

50.......... Renewal of accreditation................................................................... 41

Division 4—Amending VET accredited courses                                           42

51.......... Amending VET accredited courses................................................... 42

Division 5—Cancelling accreditation                                                                  43

52.......... Cancelling accreditation..................................................................... 43

53.......... National VET Regulator to notify relevant persons of proposed cancellation           43

54.......... When cancellation takes effect........................................................... 44

Part 4—National VET Regulator’s power to issue and cancel VET qualifications etc. 45

Division 1—Issue of VET qualifications and VET statements of attainment      45

55.......... National VET Regulator may issue VET qualifications and VET statements of attainment      45

Division 2—Cancellation of VET qualifications and VET statements of attainment      46

Subdivision A—Cancellation                                                                                 46

56.......... National VET Regulator may cancel VET qualifications and VET statements of attainment    46

57.......... National VET Regulator to notify person concerned of proposed cancellation         47

58.......... National VET Regulator’s consideration of response....................... 48

59.......... When cancellation takes effect........................................................... 49

Subdivision B—Civil penalties                                                                              49

60.......... Civil penalty—failure to return VET qualification or VET statement of attainment  49

61.......... Civil penalty—use of cancelled VET qualification or VET statement of attainment 50

Part 5—Investigative powers                                                                                         52

Division 1—Requiring people to give information and produce documents or things   52

Subdivision A—Requests by National VET Regulator                                    52

62.......... Request to person who is, or was, connected with a registered training organisation               52

63.......... National VET Regulator may retain documents and things............... 53

Subdivision B—Offence and related provisions                                               53

64.......... Failure to comply with National VET Regulator’s request................ 53

65.......... Self-incrimination etc........................................................................ 53

Division 2—Searches of premises                                                                         55

Subdivision A—Exercising monitoring or enforcement powers                  55

66.......... Authorised officer may enter premises by consent or under a warrant 55

67.......... Monitoring powers of authorised officers......................................... 55

68.......... Enforcement powers of authorised officers....................................... 58

69.......... Persons assisting authorised officers................................................ 60

70.......... Use of force in executing a warrant................................................... 60

71.......... Authorised officer may ask questions and seek production of documents               61

Subdivision B—Obligations and incidental powers of authorised officers 62

72.......... Consent............................................................................................. 62

73.......... Announcement before entry under warrant....................................... 62

74.......... Authorised officer to be in possession of warrant............................. 63

75.......... Details of warrant etc. to be given to occupier................................... 63

76.......... Expert assistance to operate electronic equipment............................. 64

77.......... Compensation for damage to electronic equipment........................... 66

Subdivision C—Occupier’s rights and responsibilities                                    67

78.......... Occupier entitled to observe execution of warrant............................. 67

79.......... Occupier to provide authorised officer with facilities and assistance. 67

Subdivision D—General provisions relating to seizure                                  67

80.......... Copies of seized things to be provided.............................................. 67

81.......... Receipts for things seized.................................................................. 68

82.......... Return of seized things...................................................................... 68

83.......... Magistrate may permit a thing to be retained..................................... 69

84.......... Disposal of things............................................................................. 70

Subdivision E—Warrants                                                                                       70

85.......... Monitoring warrants......................................................................... 70

86.......... Issue of enforcement warrants.......................................................... 72

87.......... Enforcement warrants by telephone, fax etc...................................... 73

88.......... Offence relating to warrants by telephone, fax etc............................. 75

Subdivision F—Appointment of authorised officers and issue of identity cards            75

89.......... Appointment of authorised officers................................................... 75

90.......... Identity cards..................................................................................... 76

Subdivision G—Powers of magistrates                                                               77

91.......... Federal Magistrates—consent to nomination.................................... 77

92.......... Magistrates—personal capacity......................................................... 77

Part 6—Enforcement                                                                                                          78

Division 1—Offences and civil penalty provisions                                       78

Subdivision A—Conduct by NVR registered training organisations           78

93.......... Offence—providing all or part of VET course outside scope of registration            78

94.......... Civil penalty—providing all or part of VET course outside scope of registration    78

95.......... Offence—issuing VET qualification outside scope of registration.... 78

96.......... Civil penalty—issuing VET qualification outside scope of registration 79

97.......... Offence—issuing VET statement of attainment outside scope of registration          79

98.......... Civil penalty—issuing VET statement of attainment outside scope of registration   79

99.......... Offence—advertising all or part of VET course outside scope of registration          79

100........ Civil penalty—advertising all or part of VET course outside scope of registration  80

101........ Offence—certain conduct prohibited while scope of registration suspended            80

102........ Civil penalty—certain conduct prohibited while scope of registration suspended    81

103........ Offence—issuing VET qualification without providing adequate assessment          81

104........ Civil penalty—issuing VET qualification without providing adequate assessment  82

105........ Offence—issuing VET statement of attainment without providing adequate assessment         83

106........ Civil penalty—issuing VET statement of attainment without providing adequate assessment  83

107........ Offence—issuing VET qualification without ensuring adequate assessment           84

108........ Civil penalty—issuing VET qualification without ensuring adequate assessment    85

109........ Offence—issuing VET statement of attainment without ensuring adequate assessment           85

110........ Civil penalty—issuing VET statement of attainment without ensuring adequate assessment   85

111........ Civil penalty—breach of condition of registration............................. 86

112........ Civil penalty—failure to return certificate of registration................... 86

113........ Geographical jurisdiction.................................................................. 87

Subdivision B—Conduct that is prohibited if not an NVR registered training organisation       87

114........ Offence—falsely claiming to be an NVR registered training organisation               87

115........ Civil penalty—falsely claiming to be an NVR registered training organisation        87

116........ Offence—providing, or offering to provide, all or part of a VET course without registration  87

117........ Civil penalty—providing, or offering to provide, all or part of a VET course without registration          88

118........ Offence—issuing VET qualification................................................. 88

119........ Civil penalty—issuing VET qualification.......................................... 89

120........ Offence—issuing VET statement of attainment................................ 89

121........ Civil penalty—issuing VET statement of attainment......................... 89

Subdivision C—Other prohibited conduct                                                          89

122........ Offence—making false or misleading representation in advertisement 89

123........ Civil penalty—making false or misleading representation in advertisement             90

124........ Offence—making false or misleading representation relating to VET course or VET qualification         90

125........ Civil penalty—making false or misleading representation relating to VET course or VET qualification  91

126........ Offence—purporting to issue VET qualification............................... 91

127........ Civil penalty—purporting to issue VET qualification....................... 91

128........ Offence—purporting to issue VET statement of attainment.............. 92

129........ Civil penalty—purporting to issue VET statement of attainment....... 92

130........ Civil penalty—breach of condition of accreditation........................... 92

131........ Civil penalty—using a bogus VET qualification or VET statement of attainment    92

132........ Geographical jurisdiction.................................................................. 93

Subdivision D—Executive officers                                                                       93

133........ Liability of executive officer of registered training organisation........ 93

134........ Reasonable steps to prevent offence or contravention....................... 94

Subdivision E—Partnerships                                                                                 95

135........ Liability of partners in partnerships................................................... 95

Subdivision F—Unincorporated associations                                                    96

136........ Liability of members of unincorporated associations........................ 96

Division 2—Civil penalty proceedings                                                                98

Subdivision A—Obtaining an order for a civil penalty                                  98

137........ Federal Court or Federal Magistrates Court may impose pecuniary penalty             98

138........ Involvement in contravening civil penalty provision......................... 99

139........ Recovery of a pecuniary penalty....................................................... 99

140........ Gathering information for application for pecuniary penalty............. 99

141........ Continuing and multiple contraventions of civil penalty provisions 100

Subdivision B—Civil penalty proceedings and criminal proceedings      101

142........ Civil proceedings after criminal proceedings................................... 101

143........ Criminal proceedings during civil proceedings............................... 101

144........ Criminal proceedings after civil proceedings................................... 102

145........ Evidence given in proceedings for civil penalty not admissible in criminal proceedings          102

Division 3—Enforceable undertakings                                                            103

146........ Acceptance of undertakings............................................................ 103

147........ Enforcement of undertakings.......................................................... 103

Division 4—Infringement notices                                                                        104

148........ Infringement notices in respect of offences..................................... 104

149........ Infringement notices in respect of civil penalty provisions.............. 104

Division 5—Injunctions                                                                                            105

150........ Injunctions...................................................................................... 105

151........ Interim injunctions.......................................................................... 105

152........ Discharge etc. of injunctions........................................................... 105

153........ Certain limits on granting injunctions not to apply.......................... 106

154........ Other powers of the Federal Court or Federal Magistrates Court unaffected           106

Part 7—National Vocational Education and Training Regulator        108

Division 1—Establishment, functions and powers of Regulator        108

155........ Establishment.................................................................................. 108

156........ Constitution..................................................................................... 108

157........ Functions of the National VET Regulator....................................... 108

158........ Financial Viability Risk Assessment Requirements........................ 111

159........ Independence of the National VET Regulator................................. 111

160........ Minister may give directions to the National VET Regulator.......... 111

161........ National VET Regulator has privileges and immunities of the Crown 112

Division 2—Appointment of Commissioners                                                113

162........ Appointment................................................................................... 113

163........ Term of appointment....................................................................... 113

164........ Remuneration and allowances......................................................... 113

165........ Leave of absence............................................................................. 114

166........ Outside employment....................................................................... 114

167........ Disclosure of interests to the Minister............................................. 114

168........ Other terms and conditions............................................................. 114

169........ Resignation..................................................................................... 114

170........ Termination of appointment............................................................ 115

171........ Acting Chief Commissioner............................................................ 115

172........ Acting Commissioners.................................................................... 116

Division 3—National VET Regulator procedures                                     118

Subdivision A—Meetings                                                                                      118

173........ Times and places of meetings.......................................................... 118

174........ Conduct of meetings....................................................................... 118

175........ Disclosure of interests..................................................................... 119

Subdivision B—Decisions without meetings                                                     120

176........ Decisions without meetings............................................................ 120

177........ Record of decisions......................................................................... 120

Division 4—Ensuring compliance with the Standards for VET Regulators        121

178........ National VET Regulator to cooperate with assessments................. 121

Division 5—Chief Executive Officer                                                                 122

179........ Chief Executive Officer................................................................... 122

180........ Functions and powers of the Chief Executive Officer..................... 122

181........ Minister may give directions to Chief Executive Officer................. 122

Division 6—Staff and consultants                                                                       123

182........ Staff................................................................................................ 123

183........ Staff to be made available to the National VET Regulator............... 123

184........ Consultants..................................................................................... 124

Part 8—Commonwealth-State arrangements                                                    125

Division 1—Role of Ministerial Council                                                          125

Subdivision A—NVR registered training organisations                               125

185........ Standards for NVR Registered Training Organisations.................. 125

186........ Fit and Proper Person Requirements............................................... 125

187........ Data Provision Requirements.......................................................... 125

Subdivision B—VET accredited courses                                                           126

188........ Standards for VET Accredited Courses.......................................... 126

Subdivision C—VET Regulators                                                                         126

189........ Standards for VET Regulators........................................................ 126

190........ Risk Assessment Framework......................................................... 126

Subdivision D—Miscellaneous                                                                             127

191........ How the Ministerial Council gives agreement................................. 127

Division 2—Conferral of functions and powers by State law              128

Subdivision A—Conferral of functions and powers                                       128

192........ Commonwealth consent to conferral of functions etc. on the National VET Regulator by corresponding State laws........................................................................................................ 128

193........ Meaning of imposes a duty ............................................................. 128

194........ When duty imposed........................................................................ 129

195........ Duty imposed by corresponding State law applying Commonwealth law                130

Subdivision B—Jurisdiction of federal courts                                                131

196........ Conferral of jurisdiction on federal courts....................................... 131

Subdivision C—Administrative decisions                                                         131

197........ Review of certain decisions under State laws.................................. 131

Subdivision D—Application to the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory   132

198........ Application to the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory              132

Part 9—Administrative law matters                                                                        133

Division 1—Review of decisions                                                                          133

199........ Reviewable decisions...................................................................... 133

200........ Applications for reconsideration of decisions................................. 134

201........ Reconsideration by the National VET Regulator............................. 135

202........ Deadline for reconsideration........................................................... 135

203........ Review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal............................. 136

Division 2—Information management                                                            137

Subdivision A—Unauthorised disclosure                                                          137

204........ Unauthorised disclosure of VET information................................. 137

Subdivision B—Information sharing                                                                 137

205........ Disclosure of information by National VET Regulator................... 137

206........ Advising State/Territory Education Ministers about concerns or proposed cancellation of registration   138

207........ Disclosure of information to occupational licensing bodies etc....... 139

208........ Disclosure of information in accordance with international cooperative arrangements             139

209........ Release of information to the public................................................ 139

210........ Disclosure of information to the National VET Regulator.............. 140

Subdivision C—VET student records                                                                 141

211........ VET student records to be provided to National VET Regulator—executive officers etc.        141

212........ National VET Regulator may request VET student records to be provided to Regulator         142

213........ Transfer of VET student records to another registered training organisation            142

214........ National VET Regulator’s management of VET student records.... 142

Part 10—Reporting requirements                                                                            144

215........ Annual report.................................................................................. 144

216........ National Register............................................................................. 145

Part 11—Strategic and annual operational plans                                           148

Division 1—Strategic plans                                                                                    148

217........ Development of strategic plan......................................................... 148

218........ Approval of strategic plan............................................................... 148

219........ Variation of strategic plans.............................................................. 149

Division 2—Annual operational plans                                                              150

220........ Development of annual operational plan......................................... 150

221........ Variation of annual operational plan................................................ 150

Division 3—Compliance with plans                                                                   151

222........ Compliance with plans.................................................................... 151

Part 12—Miscellaneous                                                                                                   152

Division 1—Delegations                                                                                           152

223........ Delegation by the Minister.............................................................. 152

224........ Delegation by the National VET Regulator—government authorities etc.                152

225........ Delegation by the National VET Regulator—occupational licensing bodies and other industry bodies   153

226........ Delegation by the National VET Regulator—NVR registered training organisations              153

Division 2—Provisions affecting partnerships                                             155

227........ Partnerships—rights and obligations.............................................. 155

228........ Continuity of partnerships............................................................... 155

229........ Partnership ceases to exist............................................................... 155

Division 3—Provisions affecting unincorporated associations           156

230........ Unincorporated associations—rights and obligations..................... 156

231........ Unincorporated association ceases to exist...................................... 156

Division 4—Miscellaneous                                                                                      157

232........ Fees................................................................................................. 157

233........ Protection from civil actions............................................................ 158

234........ Compensation for acquisition of property....................................... 158

235........ Regulations..................................................................................... 158

 

A Bill for an Act to establish the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator, and for related purposes

The Parliament of Australia enacts: