| Title | National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Bill 2010 [2011] |
| Database | Bills & Legislation |
| Long Title | A Bill for an Act to establish the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator, and for related purposes |
| Date | 26-11-2010 12:44 PM |
| Source | Senate |
| Parl No. | 43 |
| Bill Number | 287/10 |
| Bill Type | Government |
| Portfolio | Education, Employment and Workplace Relations |
| Reps Bill Code | O |
| Status | Act |
| System Id | legislation/bills/s810_first-senate/0000 |
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
Division 1âPreliminary 1
1............ Short title............................................................................................. 1
2............ Commencement................................................................................... 2
Division 2âDefinitions 3
3............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 3
Division 3âConstitutional 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 nonâreferring 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 applyâexclusion by a law of a referring State or a Territory 19
11.......... Addressing inconsistency between Commonwealth and State and Territory laws 20
Division 4âGeneral 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.......... Extraâterritorial application................................................................ 22
Part 2âRegistration 23
Division 1âRegistering as an NVR registered training organisation 23
Subdivision AâApplying 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 BâConditions of registration 26
21.......... Complying with conditions............................................................... 26
22.......... Conditionâcompliance with the VET Quality Framework.............. 26
23.......... Conditionâsatisfying Fit and Proper Person Requirements............. 26
24.......... Conditionâsatisfying the Financial Viability Risk Assessment Requirements 26
25.......... Conditionânotifying National VET Regulator of material changes. 26
26.......... Conditionâother information must be provided............................... 27
27.......... Conditionâcooperation.................................................................... 27
28.......... Conditionâcompliance 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 CâRenewing registration 28
31.......... Renewal of registration..................................................................... 28
Division 2âChanging 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 3âEnsuring compliance with the VET Quality Framework 32
Subdivision AâAudits 32
35.......... Audits............................................................................................... 32
Subdivision BâAdministrative sanctions 32
36.......... Sanctions........................................................................................... 32
37.......... Natural justice requirements.............................................................. 33
38.......... Suspension........................................................................................ 34
39.......... Cancellation....................................................................................... 34
40.......... Other enforcement action.................................................................. 35
Division 4âRequests for reassessment 36
41.......... Requests for reassessment................................................................ 36
Division 5âWithdrawing registration 37
42.......... Withdrawing registration................................................................... 37
Part 3âAccreditation of courses 38
Division 1âApplying 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 2âConditions 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 3âRenewing accreditation 41
50.......... Renewal of accreditation................................................................... 41
Division 4âAmending VET accredited courses 42
51.......... Amending VET accredited courses................................................... 42
Division 5âCancelling 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 4âNational VET Regulatorâs power to issue and cancel VET qualifications etc. 45
Division 1âIssue of VET qualifications and VET statements of attainment 45
55.......... National VET Regulator may issue VET qualifications and VET statements of attainment 45
Division 2âCancellation of VET qualifications and VET statements of attainment 46
Subdivision AâCancellation 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 Regulatorâs consideration of response....................... 48
59.......... When cancellation takes effect........................................................... 49
Subdivision BâCivil penalties 49
60.......... Civil penaltyâfailure to return VET qualification or VET statement of attainment 49
61.......... Civil penaltyâuse of cancelled VET qualification or VET statement of attainment 50
Part 5âInvestigative powers 52
Division 1âRequiring people to give information and produce documents or things 52
Subdivision AâRequests 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 BâOffence and related provisions 53
64.......... Failure to comply with National VET Regulatorâs request................ 53
65.......... Selfâincrimination etc........................................................................ 53
Division 2âSearches of premises 55
Subdivision AâExercising 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 BâObligations 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 CâOccupierâs 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 DâGeneral 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 EâWarrants 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 FâAppointment of authorised officers and issue of identity cards 75
89.......... Appointment of authorised officers................................................... 75
90.......... Identity cards..................................................................................... 76
Subdivision GâPowers of magistrates 77
91.......... Federal Magistratesâconsent to nomination.................................... 77
92.......... Magistratesâpersonal capacity......................................................... 77
Part 6âEnforcement 78
Division 1âOffences and civil penalty provisions 78
Subdivision AâConduct by NVR registered training organisations 78
93.......... Offenceâproviding all or part of VET course outside scope of registration 78
94.......... Civil penaltyâproviding all or part of VET course outside scope of registration 78
95.......... Offenceâissuing VET qualification outside scope of registration.... 78
96.......... Civil penaltyâissuing VET qualification outside scope of registration 79
97.......... Offenceâissuing VET statement of attainment outside scope of registration 79
98.......... Civil penaltyâissuing VET statement of attainment outside scope of registration 79
99.......... Offenceâadvertising all or part of VET course outside scope of registration 79
100........ Civil penaltyâadvertising all or part of VET course outside scope of registration 80
101........ Offenceâcertain conduct prohibited while scope of registration suspended 80
102........ Civil penaltyâcertain conduct prohibited while scope of registration suspended 81
103........ Offenceâissuing VET qualification without providing adequate assessment 81
104........ Civil penaltyâissuing VET qualification without providing adequate assessment 82
105........ Offenceâissuing VET statement of attainment without providing adequate assessment 83
106........ Civil penaltyâissuing VET statement of attainment without providing adequate assessment 83
107........ Offenceâissuing VET qualification without ensuring adequate assessment 84
108........ Civil penaltyâissuing VET qualification without ensuring adequate assessment 85
109........ Offenceâissuing VET statement of attainment without ensuring adequate assessment 85
110........ Civil penaltyâissuing VET statement of attainment without ensuring adequate assessment 85
111........ Civil penaltyâbreach of condition of registration............................. 86
112........ Civil penaltyâfailure to return certificate of registration................... 86
113........ Geographical jurisdiction.................................................................. 87
Subdivision BâConduct that is prohibited if not an NVR registered training organisation 87
114........ Offenceâfalsely claiming to be an NVR registered training organisation 87
115........ Civil penaltyâfalsely claiming to be an NVR registered training organisation 87
116........ Offenceâproviding, or offering to provide, all or part of a VET course without registration 87
117........ Civil penaltyâproviding, or offering to provide, all or part of a VET course without registration 88
118........ Offenceâissuing VET qualification................................................. 88
119........ Civil penaltyâissuing VET qualification.......................................... 89
120........ Offenceâissuing VET statement of attainment................................ 89
121........ Civil penaltyâissuing VET statement of attainment......................... 89
Subdivision CâOther prohibited conduct 89
122........ Offenceâmaking false or misleading representation in advertisement 89
123........ Civil penaltyâmaking false or misleading representation in advertisement 90
124........ Offenceâmaking false or misleading representation relating to VET course or VET qualification 90
125........ Civil penaltyâmaking false or misleading representation relating to VET course or VET qualification 91
126........ Offenceâpurporting to issue VET qualification............................... 91
127........ Civil penaltyâpurporting to issue VET qualification....................... 91
128........ Offenceâpurporting to issue VET statement of attainment.............. 92
129........ Civil penaltyâpurporting to issue VET statement of attainment....... 92
130........ Civil penaltyâbreach of condition of accreditation........................... 92
131........ Civil penaltyâusing a bogus VET qualification or VET statement of attainment 92
132........ Geographical jurisdiction.................................................................. 93
Subdivision DâExecutive officers 93
133........ Liability of executive officer of registered training organisation........ 93
134........ Reasonable steps to prevent offence or contravention....................... 94
Subdivision EâPartnerships 95
135........ Liability of partners in partnerships................................................... 95
Subdivision FâUnincorporated associations 96
136........ Liability of members of unincorporated associations........................ 96
Division 2âCivil penalty proceedings 98
Subdivision AâObtaining 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 BâCivil 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 3âEnforceable undertakings 103
146........ Acceptance of undertakings............................................................ 103
147........ Enforcement of undertakings.......................................................... 103
Division 4âInfringement notices 104
148........ Infringement notices in respect of offences..................................... 104
149........ Infringement notices in respect of civil penalty provisions.............. 104
Division 5âInjunctions 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 7âNational Vocational Education and Training Regulator 108
Division 1âEstablishment, 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 2âAppointment 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 3âNational VET Regulator procedures 118
Subdivision AâMeetings 118
173........ Times and places of meetings.......................................................... 118
174........ Conduct of meetings....................................................................... 118
175........ Disclosure of interests..................................................................... 119
Subdivision BâDecisions without meetings 120
176........ Decisions without meetings............................................................ 120
177........ Record of decisions......................................................................... 120
Division 4âEnsuring compliance with the Standards for VET Regulators 121
178........ National VET Regulator to cooperate with assessments................. 121
Division 5âChief 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 6âStaff and consultants 123
182........ Staff................................................................................................ 123
183........ Staff to be made available to the National VET Regulator............... 123
184........ Consultants..................................................................................... 124
Part 8âCommonwealthâState arrangements 125
Division 1âRole of Ministerial Council 125
Subdivision AâNVR 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 BâVET accredited courses 126
188........ Standards for VET Accredited Courses.......................................... 126
Subdivision CâVET Regulators 126
189........ Standards for VET Regulators........................................................ 126
190........ Risk Assessment Framework......................................................... 126
Subdivision DâMiscellaneous 127
191........ How the Ministerial Council gives agreement................................. 127
Division 2âConferral of functions and powers by State law 128
Subdivision AâConferral 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 BâJurisdiction of federal courts 131
196........ Conferral of jurisdiction on federal courts....................................... 131
Subdivision CâAdministrative decisions 131
197........ Review of certain decisions under State laws.................................. 131
Subdivision DâApplication to the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory 132
198........ Application to the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory 132
Part 9âAdministrative law matters 133
Division 1âReview 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 2âInformation management 137
Subdivision AâUnauthorised disclosure 137
204........ Unauthorised disclosure of VET information................................. 137
Subdivision BâInformation 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 CâVET student records 141
211........ VET student records to be provided to National VET Regulatorâexecutive 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 Regulatorâs management of VET student records.... 142
Part 10âReporting requirements 144
215........ Annual report.................................................................................. 144
216........ National Register............................................................................. 145
Part 11âStrategic and annual operational plans 148
Division 1âStrategic plans 148
217........ Development of strategic plan......................................................... 148
218........ Approval of strategic plan............................................................... 148
219........ Variation of strategic plans.............................................................. 149
Division 2âAnnual operational plans 150
220........ Development of annual operational plan......................................... 150
221........ Variation of annual operational plan................................................ 150
Division 3âCompliance with plans 151
222........ Compliance with plans.................................................................... 151
Part 12âMiscellaneous 152
Division 1âDelegations 152
223........ Delegation by the Minister.............................................................. 152
224........ Delegation by the National VET Regulatorâgovernment authorities etc. 152
225........ Delegation by the National VET Regulatorâoccupational licensing bodies and other industry bodies 153
226........ Delegation by the National VET RegulatorâNVR registered training organisations 153
Division 2âProvisions affecting partnerships 155
227........ Partnershipsârights and obligations.............................................. 155
228........ Continuity of partnerships............................................................... 155
229........ Partnership ceases to exist............................................................... 155
Division 3âProvisions affecting unincorporated associations 156
230........ Unincorporated associationsârights and obligations..................... 156
231........ Unincorporated association ceases to exist...................................... 156
Division 4âMiscellaneous 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: