Page 791 - Week 03 - Thursday, 25 March 1993
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The Bill will establish a comprehensive registration system. It is required by and complements Commonwealth legislation, which has an impending sunset clause of 1 January 1994 and contemplates all States and Territories having their regulatory legislation in place. It identifies the Secretary of the Department of Education and Training as the administrative head responsible for the registration process and consequent advice to the Commonwealth on registration of providers in the ACT. It ensures that the interests of overseas students are safeguarded through proper contractual arrangements between providers and students. It contains provisions to limit the financial impact on students in the event of the financial collapse of the provider. It requires courses and teachers to be accredited. It requires a reasonable standard of facilities to be maintained. Finally, it requires that adequate student welfare services are provided.
This Bill will provide for the suspension, variation or cancellation of registration by the designated authority. Reviews of registration can be initiated by the registration authority. Premises will be inspected by a panel appointed by the administrative head, and courses and teachers will be assessed by the ACT Accreditation Agency. Financial acceptability of providers is regulated through comprehensive reporting and accounting requirements at initial application, backed up by regular reporting. Student course fees are required to be separately accounted for and must be applied only to expenses incurred in the provision of courses. Similar arrangements will apply where accommodation fees are charged. A registration fee will contribute to costs of regulation and other costs will be absorbed.
Perhaps most importantly, Madam Speaker, this Bill will protect both the interests of the ACT and overseas students who choose to study here, through provision of a comprehensive registration system. Members will be aware of those unfortunate incidents in other States and Territories of providers' financial collapse and/or the unscrupulous practices to which I referred earlier. The ACT has not been immune from this. The Bill will assist in minimising the chances of such events and, if a provider does get into difficulty, the Bill gives financial protection for students.
The minimum and efficient registration and regulation system proposed in the Bill is necessary to protect the personal and financial interests of international students and safeguard the outstanding reputation of education services in the ACT. Members will also appreciate the economic significance of international education to the ACT, and that increased overseas student enrolments can only serve to increase Canberra's and the region's prosperity. Students not only directly increase economic activity in the region; they can be the foundation of wider economic and cultural links with our neighbours. It is important that overseas students continue to obtain a high-quality education and retain a very positive view of their experience in Canberra. This Bill will prove to be a most effective and efficient regulatory mechanism. I present the explanatory memorandum for this Bill.
Debate (on motion by Mr Cornwell) adjourned.
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