AUSTRALIAN GREENS ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The Australian Greens:

Note the concerns raised by a number of submitters that much of the detail will be effected through the VET Guidelines and is therefore not available for examination or assessment; and supports the Committee’s recommendation that the Government continues to consult with stakeholders in formulating the VET Guidelines provided for in the bill.
Note the concerns raised by TAFE Directors Australia and RMIT University that VET students currently do not have equitable access to FEE HELP loans.
Agree with the NTEU’s submission that 'it is an abrogation of the Government's responsibilities to rely on the provision of [income-contingent loans] as the primary policy instrument for improving education participation amongst underrepresented groups of Australians'.
Support the goal of a fee and charges free TAFE system, where income contingent loans are unnecessary and the Commonwealth government increases its contribution to the costs of a high quality accessible system.
Do not support the shifting of costs for vocational education and training on to the student via TAFE student fees, which in turn necessitate students raising debts to participate in VET through the VET-FEE HELP system. For this reason any extension of the VET-FEE HELP scheme is noted with concern as pre-empting higher student fees.
Call on the Government to prioritise and increase its VET funding to the TAFE system to ensure a high quality, accessible and viable public VET system.

Senator Lee Rhiannon
Greens Senator for NSW