Page 3829 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 8 November 1994
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
I think we can expect that there will be other students coming to the ACT, perhaps to sign up with private providers for education. That is why we need this local legislation. This Bill will provide such overseas students with the protection of a comprehensive registration system of providers and financial protection should a provider go broke. Further, it establishes a trust account. The establishment of this trust account is the major departure from the earlier legislation. It requires a reasonable standard of facilities to be maintained, and it further requires adequate general welfare services to be provided for such students.
I am pleased to note that the registration process at clause 40 also allows for appeals to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, against either refusal of an appointment to be a provider or the withdrawal of that appointment, under certain conditions set out at clause 38. I believe that this is important, Madam Speaker. Some years ago there was concern expressed about this type of legislation. It was felt that the regulation and registration of private providers could be used against such providers to curtail their opportunities and their activities. Therefore, the protection set out in clauses 38 and 40 is welcomed by the Liberal Party, as indeed is this Bill. The Liberal Party, accordingly, supports it.
MR WOOD (Minister for Education and Training, Minister for the Arts and Heritage and Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning) (8.20), in reply: I thank Mr Cornwell for his comments and the indication in the house of support for the Bill. It has been a while in coming, as has been indicated. I think that has given us a better Bill in the end. It is true that all of the government institutions, the public institutions, are automatically covered. I would be quite happy to see a private college again established in Canberra and catering for overseas students. I would be happy because, if that eventuated, we could be sure that we have protection for the students. The Metropolitan Business College and other colleges may from time to time cater for overseas students; but that is not by any means their principal business.
We did have a college catering particularly for overseas students, and it collapsed. We did not, at that stage, have the provisions that we have here that would have protected the students. As a result, the Education Department and other education institutions around Canberra had to work very hard to ensure that the students who were left up in the air were able to complete a certificate, as well as they could under the circumstances. I think the measures that we are taking now would ensure that that circumstance did not arise again. It would be unusual if it were the case that there were real difficulties. The students would be protected. They would have access to their money, or a very significant part of their money, and they would not be in such difficulties in the circumstances I described. I thank members for their support.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .