Higher Education Support Amendment (VET FEE-HELP Reform) Bill 2015

Summary

Amends the Higher Education Support Act 2003 to: require VET FEE-HELP approved training providers to develop and apply appropriate student entry procedure requirements; require students under the age of 18 to seek their parent’s approval before requesting a VET FEE-HELP loan; broaden the circumstances in which a student can seek a re-credit of their VET FEE-HELP loan debt balance and remission of a debt; add to the eligibility criteria required for admitting new VET providers to the VET-FEE-HELP loan scheme; provide for an infringement notice scheme with a civil penalty regime for VET providers who engage in inappropriate marketing behaviours and administrative practices; extend the Commonwealth and national VET Regulator’s powers with respect to monitoring and investigation; and make consequential amendments.

Progress

House of Representatives
Introduced and read a first time	15 Oct 2015
Second reading moved	15 Oct 2015
Second reading debate	09 Nov 2015
Second reading debate	11 Nov 2015
Second reading agreed to	11 Nov 2015
Consideration in detail debate	11 Nov 2015
Third reading agreed to	11 Nov 2015

Senate
Introduced and read a first time	12 Nov 2015
Second reading moved	12 Nov 2015
Second reading debate	01 Dec 2015
Second reading agreed to	02 Dec 2015
Committee of the Whole debate Amendment details: 24 Government [2 as amended by 2 Independent (Lazarus)/Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party] agreed to Requests details: 1 Government agreed to	02 Dec 2015

House of Representatives
Consideration of Senate message Details: House made Senate requested amendment	02 Dec 2015

Senate
Third reading agreed to	03 Dec 2015

House of Representatives
Consideration of Senate message Details: House agreed to Senate amendments	03 Dec 2015


Finally passed both Houses	03 Dec 2015
Assent Act no: 168 Year: 2015	11 Dec 2015

Documents and transcripts

Text of bill

First reading

As passed by both Houses

Explanatory memoranda

Explanatory memorandum

Regulation impact statement

Supplementary explanatory memorandum

Transcript of speeches

Proposed amendments

House of representatives

Non-Government
BIRD, Sharon, MP

Senate

Government [sheet GZ155]

Independent/Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party [sheet 7835]
LAZARUS, Sen Glenn
MUIR, Sen Ricky

Opposition [sheet 7828]
CARR, Sen Kim

Opposition [sheet 7800]
CARR, Sen Kim

Schedules of amendments

Schedule of the amendments made by the Senate

Schedule of the request by the Senate for an amendment and the amendments made by the Senate

Bills digest

Bills Digest

Notes

Referred to Committee (12/11/2015): Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee; Committee report (30/11/2015)
An electronic version of this Act is available on the Federal Register of Legislation (www.legislation.gov.au)

Helpful information

Text of bill

First reading: Text of the bill as introduced into the Parliament
Third reading: Prepared if the bill is amended by the house in which it was introduced. This version of the bill is then considered by the second house.
As passed by both houses: Final text of bill agreed to by both the House of Representatives and the Senate which is presented to the Governor-General for assent.

Explanatory memoranda

Explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and provides an explanation of the content of the introduced version (first reading) of the bill.
Supplementary explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and explains amendments proposed by the government to the bill.
Revised explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and explains the amended version (third reading) of the bill. It supersedes the explanatory memorandum.

Proposed amendments

Circulated by members and senators when they propose to make changes to the bill. For details about the outcome of proposed amendments please refer to either the Votes and Proceedings (House of Representatives) or the Journals (Senate).

Schedules of amendments

Schedules of amendments list amendments agreed to by the second house are communicated to the first house for consideration. Subsequent action by either house may also be included in a schedule.